Israel on Tuesday called for a UN Security Council meeting to request the release of hostages held under Hamas prisoners of war in Gaza. It comes after the Gaza-based group released a video showing a 24-year-old man who is weakened.
Israeli hostages gained widespread sympathy, but the light letter of more than 2 million Palestinians starving for the enclave has gained even more support.
Most members of the Security Council accused Israel of producing a humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Because they pointed to a two-month blockade of government and military strips and did not allow enough food and medicine to enter the territory of war.
Hamas-Run Gaza Health Ministry says at least 188 Palestinians, including at least 94 children, have so far died of malnutrition-related causes.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saa, who flew to New York to attend the session, accused Russia, other members of the council, and “so many lies” of perpetuating “there are so many lies” and spreading anti-Israel injustice.
He said Hamas members and Palestinian Islamic jihad were not feeding hostages while they “enjoy meat, fish and vegetables.” Saar argued that his country allowed “a huge amount of aid” to enter the siege territory, and Hamas denounced the looting.
Israeli diplomats said the group is using it as a “financial tool” to steal food, medical supplies and other basic needs and sell them to make money. United Nations spokesman Stephen Dujaric has previously rebutted these claims, saying there is no evidence to point to them.
Saa also accused the Palestinians of “inventing terrorism” and Hamas of wanting to continue the war rather than reaching a ceasefire agreement with Israel.
“The world is upside down while Hamas runs the propaganda machine,” he said. “The world is placed on the accused’s bench while Israel fights for its survival. It has its name. It is called anti-Semitism.”
Testimony from hostage relatives
Itai David, brother of 24-year-old Eviatar David, was captured in a Hamas released video, and appears thin and weak, saying he is “digging his own grave” in a Gaza tunnel, urging the Security Council to take action and save lives.
“Don’t let them die. We don’t have time. Please don’t let them spend another minute in the dark.”
Calling his brother “living skeletons,” Itay urged 15 council members to help human aid hostages in video briefings, denying “the most basic necessities of life” by saying they were psychologically and physically broken by Hamas.
Israel criticised human suffering in Gaza
Many members, including Britain and Sierra Leone, praised the brothers for defending Hamas, accusing them of taking hostages as a war crime, but accusing Israel of committing themselves.
Sierra Leone’s UN ambassador to UN Michael Imran Kanu said it is an international crime that requires hostages to be taken, but “one atrocities cannot justify another.”
“We are expressing deep concern about hostages, but we cannot ignore the broader humanitarian catastrophe that engulfed Gaza,” he said. “The Gaza people have been exposed to blockades and sieges that have taken away food, water, fuel and medical supplies,” which could also constitute a war crime.
British UN ambassador Barbara Woodward repeatedly supported London’s support for the immediate release of hostages, but denounced Israel for limiting aid and forcing densely populated enclaves to prefer under conditions like hunger.
“Since the end of the ceasefire, the suffering of hostages and Palestinian civilians has fallen into new and shocking depths,” she said. “Israel aid restrictions have led to the deployment of hunger in Gaza, as reported by international experts monitoring hunger globally.” ”
Woodward said he spoke to a doctor who worked in Gaza last week. “They saw their children fested for months, which was extremely malnourished and unhealed, and they saw babies confiscated by the Israeli army.
“I am now calling on Israel to act to alleviate the horrific suffering,” she said.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas attacked Southern Israel, killing 1,200 people, and then about 250 hostages were taken. Most have been released under various hostage exchange agreements, but 50 remain in Gaza, and 20 are believed to be still alive.
Hamas attack was followed by a full Israeli attack on the strip in 22 months. According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, the Israeli attacks killed more than 61,000 Palestinians.
The United Nations says it was able to independently verify that more than two-thirds of deaths were women and children.
