Goal: End terror

Relatives of the Hamas hostages and their supporters called on the UN the other day to do its part in bringing back their family members and rendering justice.

The United Nations, thus far, has fared dismally in fulfilling its role in the Israel-Hamas conflict that has been playing out for over two weeks.

Instead of giving clarity to the situation by making an unequivocal stand against the reign of terror, the UN has turned into an accomplice of the Hamas terrorists in the unprecedented brutality that was wreaked on 7 October when more than 1,400 mostly civilians were massacred.

The UN has repeatedly called for a humanitarian pause, which is coopting to the wishes of the terror group.

More than 200 people were taken hostage by the extremists who rampaged through the peaceful communities.

Relatives of the Hamas hostages and their supporters called on the UN the other day to do its part in bringing back their family members and rendering justice.

One by one, members of the hostages’ families stood on a podium in front of the United Nations, pleading to world leaders for help rescuing their children, parents, brothers, and sisters who had nothing to do with the raging war.

“We have not heard anything from anybody. Do your work. Give us signs of life. Give a sign of hope. We’re waiting for that. We’re not getting anything, I’m sorry,” said Orna Neutra, the mother of a hostage.

In the plaza across the street, a solidarity rally displayed the horrors of war, putting up the names and photos of the missing hostages and setting shoes next to each poster.

“These are the little shoes of 4-year-old girls that danced and walked in the kibbutz and now are held hostage in Gaza,” American resident Shany Granot-Lubaton said. “We just want people to understand how real it is for us. These are our family. These are our friends. This is what it looks like. These are real people.”

The UN response led by Russia and China — which received support from the UN leadership — was appalling, calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire to deliver “desperately needed food, water, medicine and fuel,” which Israeli officials said would benefit the besieged terrorists.

Russia and China on Wednesday vetoed the US-authored draft resolution condemning the terror attacks by Hamas on Israel.

Israeli Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan said that had these nations endured a similar massacre, they would have acted with much greater force.

“In Israel, we are fighting for our very survival. If any of your countries endured a similar massacre, I am certain that you would act with much greater force than Israel,” he said.

“There would be no question in your mind that such a barbaric slaughter requires a broad military operation against the terrorists who committed such inhumane atrocities to eradicate their terrorist capabilities, to make sure that such atrocities can never happen again,” he said.

The draft resolution condemned the attack by Hamas on Israel and called for the release of the hostages and compliance with international humanitarian law.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called for universal condemnation of Hamas’s terrorism and the immediate release of hostages.

“I implore every member here, use your voice, use your influence, use your leverage to secure their unconditional and immediate release,” Blinken said.

Ten countries on the UN Security Council backed the resolution, while Russia, China, and the United Arab Emirates voted against it, and two other nations abstained.

Russia’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, said his country won’t support the US resolution, adding that they see no point in it as the document has no demand for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire between the parties to the conflict.

As a victim of similar atrocities inflicted by terrorists in Marawi City, Filipinos know a quick resolution is essential to end the crisis, which for Israel is the complete elimination of Hamas.

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Credit belongs to: tribune.net.ph