The Security Council will meet today, Thursday, at 3:00 PM New York time (10:00 PM Israel time), for the first time since the "Al-Aqsa Flood" operation to conduct a special discussion focusing solely on the issue of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza and enhancing efforts for their release.
Israeli Ambassador's Statements
Israeli Ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, stated, "I will demand that the council take actionable decisions and steps to pressure Hamas to release the hostages." He added, "If the council does not exert pressure and impose a cost on Hamas, kidnapping terrorism will spread globally just as airplane terrorism has become a global phenomenon." This discussion comes after extensive efforts made by Ambassador Erdan and collaboration with the US delegation at the UN.
Discussion Objectives
The discussion will address the measures that UN agencies and the Security Council can take to expedite the process of releasing hostages and how to pressure Hamas for this purpose.
Calls for International Action
During the discussion, Erdan intends to seek answers as to why the Security Council does not declare Hamas a terrorist organization and why international sanctions are not imposed on Hamas leaders. He pointed out that continued inaction by the Security Council will make kidnapping terrorism, including the abduction of children and infants, a standard for international terrorism.
