U.S. DEFEATS U.N. RESOLUTION THAT LEGITIMISED HAMAS PROPAGANDA

Moral clarity from U.S. envoy Morgan Ortagus: “Colleagues, U.S. opposition to this resolution will come as no surprise. It fails to condemn Hamas or recognize Israel’s right to defend itself and it wrongly legitimizes the false narratives benefiting Hamas, which have sadly found currency in this Council.”

“Council Members ignored when the United States made clear that this resolution was unacceptable. The Council instead opted for a performative action – designed to draw a veto – that extends Hamas terrorists and those who fund them and support them, and gives them a lifeline.

Let’s recall that Hamas started this brutal conflict on October 7, 2023, when it perpetrated the worst massacre and kidnapping of Jews since the Holocaust. To the approval of its supporters, who took to the streets on October 8 to praise what Hamas had done, Hamas promises to repeat October 7. Despite everything, Hamas has no regrets. The lives of Gaza’s civilians in harm’s way are mere tools in the project to destroy Israel.

Hamas continues to hold 48 hostages – those who remain alive are captive in a living hell. It has done so for 713 days. We have seen the chilling videos and images of how Hamas has starved the hostages. In this Council we have heard heart-rending testimony from freed hostages of how Hamas brutalized and sexually assaulted them during their captivity.

Hamas is responsible for starting and continuing this war. Israel has accepted proposed terms that would end the war, but Hamas continues to reject them. This war could end today if Hamas freed the hostages and laid down its arms.