IIsrael’s UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan reacted with outrage to a statement by Antonio Guterres on the Gaza conflict and called for the resignation of the UN Secretary General. Guterres shows “understanding for a campaign of mass murder of children, women and the elderly” and is not suitable to lead the UN, Erdan wrote on the short message service It is truly sad that the head of an organization that emerged after the Holocaust holds such terrible views.” After the Hamas attacks, there is “no room left for a balanced position.”
Guterres had appealed to the Security Council for the protection of civilians in the Gaza war and expressed concern about “clear violations of international humanitarian law.” He went on to say about the surprise attack by radical Islamists on Israel on October 7th that it was important to recognize “that Hamas’ attacks did not happen in a vacuum. The Palestinian people have been subjected to oppressive occupation for 56 years.” The resentment of the Palestinian people cannot justify Hamas’ horrific attacks, Guterres said. “And these terrible attacks cannot justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.”
“Mr Secretary General, what world do you live in?”
Guterres also called for a humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. Israel’s foreign minister rejects this. “Tell me: What is your proportionate response to the killing of babies, the rape and burning of women, and the beheading of a child? “How can you agree to a truce with someone who has sworn to kill you and destroy your existence?” Eli Cohen shouted at a high-level council meeting in New York on Tuesday. “Mr. Secretary General, what world do you live in?” Cohen asked Guterres.
The United States, meanwhile, has backed Israel. “We must affirm the right of every nation to defend itself and prevent such harm from occurring again,” said Secretary of State Antony Blinken. “No member of this council, no nation in this entire body could or would tolerate the slaughter of its people.”
Blinken emphasized that Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people. Palestinian civilians cannot be blamed for Hamas’ bloodbath and must be protected. “There is no hierarchy when it comes to protecting civilian life. A civilian is a civilian is a civilian, regardless of nationality, ethnicity, age, gender or creed,” Blinken said.
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