Israel’s ambassador to the UN Danny Danon urged member countries of the UN Security Council to reject Kuwait’s “dangerous” resolution condemning Israel over its response to violent riots in the Gaza Strip ahead of a vote later this week.
“Kuwait’s dangerous draft resolution only reinforces Hamas’ terror regime that oppresses and threatens the residents of Gaza and the security of Israeli citizens,” Danon said. “Do not lend a hand to support Hamas’ terrorism.”
“If the Council seeks to protect the residents of Gaza, it must take steps against Hamas’ war crimes and not reward the organization’s cycle of bloodshed,” he said.
Kuwait, which is the council’s Arab representative, said Israel should be condemned “in the strongest terms” and “immediately cease its military reprisals, collective punishment and unlawful use of force against civilians, including in the Gaza Strip.”
The draft also called for an international force to be charged with overseeing the coastal enclave. The U.S. will likely exercise its veto on the resolution if it comes to a vote.Kuwait’s draft calls for “the full lifting of the blockade and the restrictions imposed by Israel on the movement and access into and out of the Gaza Strip” including “the immediate, sustained and unconditional opening of the crossing points” to allow humanitarian aid, commercial goods and people to enter and leave in accordance with international law.
Gaza is under a security blockade imposed by Israel on one side and Egypt on the other. Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman refused to cooperate with a call for an independent investigation into the Gaza riots from the UN Human Rights Council, charging the council with being a “cheerleader for terrorists.” The council slammed “the disproportionate and indiscriminate use of force by the Israeli occupying forces against Palestinian civilians.”
Liberman tweeted that “the only investigation that needs to be set up is into how the Human Rights Council became a cheerleader for terrorists.” The council voted for the inquiry 29 in favor and two against with 14 countries.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed the vote and the council as “irrelevant.”