Israel reject UNGA's call for ceasefire: Israel's Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen has expressed Israel's rejection of the United Nations General Assembly's call for a ceasefire, drawing a parallel with the world's stance against Nazis and ISIS, stating that Israel intends to eliminate Hamas.

Photo : Eli Chohen Israel's Foreign Minister

Cohen's statement comes after  UNGA's passing of a resolution on Friday, calling for an "immediate, durable, and sustained humanitarian ceasefire" between Israeli forces and Hamas militants in Gaza.

The Jordan-led draft resolution received approval from the General Assembly, with 120 votes in favor, 14 against, and 45 abstentions. Notable among the countries abstaining from the vote were Iceland, India, Panama, Lithuania, and Greece.

This resolution was adopted during an emergency special session of the UN General Assembly, addressing the Israel-Palestine crisis. It also called for the "continuous, adequate, and uninterrupted" provision of life-saving supplies and services for civilians trapped in the conflict zone.

The voting in the UN General Assembly comes at a time when Israel has announced an expansion of ground operations in Gaza. Interestingly, the Jordan-proposed resolution does not explicitly mention the Hamas terrorist attacks that occurred on October 7. It garnered support from 40 countries, including Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, Israel's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, delivered remarks during the Emergency Special Session on the Israel-Hamas conflict. He strongly criticized the UN's stance, suggesting that the majority of the international community appeared to be favoring the defense of terrorists over supporting Israel in its efforts to protect its citizens.

Erdan emphasized that those genuinely interested in preventing further violence should call on Hamas to disarm, surrender, and release all hostages, which he believes would promptly lead to the end of the conflict.

Erdan lamented that Israel had endured "the worst massacre of Jews" since the Holocaust but was seemingly denied the right to defend itself by the majority of the so-called "family of nations." He criticized the UNGA resolution for not explicitly mentioning Hamas and its role in the ongoing crisis.

He urged the UN to name and condemn the murderous terrorists responsible for these acts instead of hiding behind empty words. Erdan questioned the intentions behind the resolution, whether it aimed to find a solution or to restrict Israel from defending itself.

Israel's goal, as asserted by Erdan, is to eliminate Hamas's capabilities to prevent future atrocities, particularly in light of the potential for repeat attacks. He stressed the importance of rooting out Hamas from their tunnels and subterranean networks, which he referred to as a city of terror.

This situation highlights the deep divisions and differing perspectives on the Israel-Hamas conflict within the international community. The stark contrast in viewpoints makes a peaceful resolution all the more challenging to attain.

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