Israel’s UN envoy urges Security Council to condemn the deadly rocket attacks on innocent civilians and to designate Hamas as a terrorist organization.
By Max Gelber, United with Israel
After Hamas fired 400 missiles at southern Israel – resulting in one death, several injuries and extensive damage – United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Israel and the Palestinians “to exercise maximum restraint.”
Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, appealed to the Security Council Tuesday to condemn the firing of hundreds of rockets at Israel and to designate Hamas as a terror organizaaion.
“Hamas has fired 400+ rockets into Israeli civilian centers. I call on the #UNSC to condemn Hamas in the strongest terms for its indiscriminate attacks against innocent civilian populations. It is time this body acknowledges and designates #Hamas as a terrorist organization,” he tweeted.
“After a day of rocket barrages, there is no room for any other definition of Hamas except that of terrorist organization. To the world it presents its civilians as victims, but then uses them as human shields,” the ambassador noted.
He added that “Israel cooperated with all international bodies, including the UN, but the aggressive escalation from Gaza indicates that there are elements pushing for another round of violence that will cause destruction and losses within the Gaza Strip.”
Due to the escalating violence, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday evening held a security consultation at the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv with the Minister of Defense, the IDF Chief of Staff and senior members of the defense establishment and the IDF.
A similar meeting will be held with the Cabinet on Tuesday to decide on Israel’s next steps. Overnight, there were several injuries and one fatality.
IDF ‘Will Retaliate Against These Cowards’
The IDF has been streaming forces to the border with Gaza, including tanks and other armored vehicles. A ground incursion by the IDF into the Strip would constitute a significant escalation in the violence and essentially mean that Israel has launched another broad counter-terrorism operation.
“Hamas continues to fire indiscriminately at Israeli civilians as we speak. Hundreds of rockets have been fired already. We will continue to defend our civilians and retaliate against these cowards. Strategic military assets of Hamas are targeted,” stated IDF spokesman Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus.
As the violence persisted and even escalated on Tuesday, Israel kept several of crossings from Israel into Gaza open, ensuring the address of Gaza’s humanitarian needs.