09 October,2023 11:22 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
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The United Nations Security Council convened an emergency meeting behind closed doors, with the United States urging all 15 members to strongly condemn the "heinous terrorist attacks committed by Hamas." However, the Security Council failed to achieve the unanimity needed for a joint statement.
U.S. Deputy Ambassador Robert Wood said that "a good number of countries" did condemn the Hamas attack, but not all council members did so. He hinted that one of the members might have been Russia. Russia's U.N. Ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, disputed this claim, stating that Russia condemns all attacks on civilians and emphasized the importance of stopping the fighting immediately and resuming meaningful negotiations.
China's Ambassador Zhang Jun expressed a similar stance, condemning attacks on civilians and emphasizing the need to prevent further escalation while advocating for a two-state solution.
The U.S. ambassador emphasized the need to condemn Hamas for their "unprovoked invasion and terrorist attacks" and called for an end to their violent activities against Israelis. When asked about the importance of restarting talks on a two-state solution, he stated that there would be a time for that, but the immediate focus was on addressing the current violence.
Both China and Russia underscored the importance of the Security Council's role in maintaining international peace and security. However, no country presented a statement for the council's consideration during the meeting.
Also read: Israel-Hamas war: Key developments, implications, and historical background
It is possible that the Security Council could adopt a statement in the coming days if differences over condemning Hamas, civilian deaths, and language related to ending the violence and resuming negotiations can be resolved. Malta's U.N. Ambassador, Vanessa Frazier, who called for the meeting, emphasized the need for any condemnation to primarily target Hamas, acknowledging that Palestinian civilians were also victims in this conflict.
During the meeting, council members were briefed by U.N. Mideast envoy Tor Wennesland, who described the situation as "precarious" and "awful" and expressed fear among people on both sides.
Ambassador Lana Nusseibeh of the United Arab Emirates, the Arab representative on the council, stressed the importance of working towards calm and de-escalation while prioritizing the protection of civilians on both sides.
U.S. Ambassador Wood described the situation as "fluid and very dangerous" and highlighted the Biden administration's efforts, along with other regional countries, to prevent the conflict from spreading.
Israeli Ambassador Gilad Erdan accused Hamas of carrying out a surprise "barbaric pogrom" and labeled their actions as "blatant, documented war crimes." He described how Hamas had attacked homes, gathered families, and shot them at point-blank range.
Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian ambassador, called for an immediate end to the violence and the lifting of the blockade on Gaza. He emphasized the need for a political solution that offers a path to peace, different from the current course taken by Israel, which he argued has inflicted suffering on both Israelis and Palestinians. (With inputs from AP)
