Israel’s war against Hamas and the hostage situation held in Gaza continue to be the focus of United Nations oversight. The Israeli ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, pledged to wear a yellow star with the message “never again” until the UN Security Council condemned the “atrocities of Hamas” and demanded the “immediate “immediate release” of the hostages.
However, Erdan’s move drew sharp criticism from Israel. His use of the insignia, which has symbolized the oppression of the Jews since its imposition in Nazi-occupied Europe, was condemned by Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust memorial.
Yad Vashem president Dani Dayan said he was “sorry to see” the decision by the Israeli delegation in New York.
“This act shames the victims of the Holocaust as well as the State of Israel,” Dayan said in a Hebrew post on X, formerly Twitter. However, the spokespersons of the institution urged the diplomat to use the Israeli flag to ask for respect and understanding.
Lack of consensus
Israel’s envoy to the world body, Gilad Erdan, criticized the Security Council on Monday for “remaining silent” in the face of the unprecedented deadly attack by Palestinian militants Hamas against Israel on October 7.
The UN Security Council failed to pass a series of resolutions addressing the situation in Israel and Gaza due to a lack of consensus.
Israel angrily rejected a UN resolution calling for a “humanitarian truce” in Gaza, and the country’s ambassador said Israel would continue to defend itself.
“This is a dark day for the UN and for humanity,” said UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan, who vowed that his country would use “all means” to fight Hamas.
“Today is a day to stay evil. “We have all witnessed that the UN no longer has an ounce of legitimacy or relevance,” he said.
