"If any of your countries endured similar massacre...": Israel's UN envoy blasts Russia, China for vetoing US resolution on attacks

After Russia and China vetoed the US-authored draft resolution condemning the terror attacks by Hamas on Israel, Gilad Erdan, the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, said had these countries endured a similar massacre, they would have acted with much greater force than his nation.

After Russia and China vetoed the US-authored draft resolution condemning the terror attacks by Hamas on Israel, Gilad Erdan, the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, said had these countries endured a similar massacre, they would have acted with much greater force than his nation. "In Israel, we are fighting for our very survival...If any of your countries endured a similar massacre, I am certain that you would act with much greater force than Israel," he said.

"There would be no question in your mind that such a barbaric slaughter requires a broad military operation against the terrorists who committed such inhumane atrocities to eradicate their terrorist capabilities in order to make sure that such atrocities can never happen again," he added, referring to Russia. Russia and China on Wednesday vetoed the US-authored draft resolution on the Middle East at the UN Security Council, TASS reported.

The draft resolution condemned the attack by the radical Palestinian movement Hamas on Israel and called for the release of hostages and compliance with international humanitarian law. The resolution, however, found support from ten countries, while Russia, China and the UAE voted against it and two other nations abstained from voting, according to TASS.

While not calling for a ceasefire, the resolution recognised the rights of both countries to defend themselves. Earlier, on Tuesday, Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, said his country won't support the US resolution, adding that they see no point in it as the document has no demand for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire between the parties to the conflict.

Erdan said he was shocked by the decision of those who voted against this resolution. "Those who have voted against the US-led resolution have shown the world that this Council is incapable of doing the most basic task of condemning ISIS-like terrorists and cannot confirm the right to self-defence of the victim of these heinous crimes. Israel has been attacked and continues to be attacked," he added.

Erdan stated further that the Russian resolution voted upon today has sought to tie Israel's hands, "preventing us from eliminating a threat to our existence and permitting the genocidal terrorists to regroup so they can massacre us again". The absurdity of calling on Israel to rescind the call for temporary evacuation is truly unbelievable and goes against every value that this Council represents, he claimed.

"By demanding Israel call on Gazans to return north, the resolution only serves to maximise civilian casualties, not mitigate them. Why would Israel ask Gazans to return to an active war zone? We cherish life and we are not fighting the Palestinians," Israel's permanent envoy to the UN added. Meanwhile, while condemning Russia's veto, Erdan thanked the US and every other member of the council for supporting the resolution.

"I would like to begin by deeply thanking the United States and every other member of this council who supported this resolution. Voting for a resolution that clearly condemns savage, genocidal terrorists while standing up for member states' right to defend themselves against terror shows that despite all of the falsehoods spread in the UN's halls, there are still those who stand up for the values of freedom and security," he said. He said if the other resolution truly focused on the humanitarian situation as it was presented, "then over 220 hostages being held by Hamas would not be a general-signed note at the very end of the resolution. It would be the first demand."

"The hostages held by Hamas must be the top humanitarian priority of the international community. Their well-being should come before aiding the supporters of the terrorists who abducted them," the envoy said. "Despite the wording of the Russian resolution, there can never be any false, immoral comparisons between the Hamas savages and the law-abiding democracy of Israel," Erdan added.

Adding that Israel's ongoing fight was against "sheer evil", he said, "This should be crystal clear to every person in this room." "Hamas has perpetrated the most barbaric massacre of Jews since the Holocaust", the envoy said, adding, "Hamas is solely responsible for the Palestinian situation in Gaza. It is committing crimes against humanity," Erdan said. (ANI)

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