Danny Danon, the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, told the U.N. Security Council that it doesn’t understand the reality on the ground in the Gaza Strip.
“Many of you are already picturing Gaza’s future: hotels rising on the coast, schools filled with children, hospitals rebuilt and thriving,” Danon told council members on Thursday at the global body’s monthly scheduled meeting on the Israeli-Palestinian file.
“I could hand each of you a pair of virtual reality goggles and you could watch that dream unfold,” he said. “But before we get lost in that illusion, let’s remove the goggles and look at what is really happening today.”
“Hamas still exists, is armed and actively continues to murder, including its own people,” Danon said, showing the council a photo of recent Hamas public executions of Gazans in the Strip.
“This is what reality looks like,” he said. “As Hamas is not disarmed, there is no future for Gaza and no peace.”
Danon accused the council of implicitly approving of Hamas due to the global body’s “dangerous” silence on the public executions.
“No accountability. No emergency session,” Danon said. “It strengthens Hamas.”
Most diplomats attending Thursday’s meeting expressed support for the ceasefire, while urging the delivery of more aid and advancing the American-Israeli Arab peace plan.
Mike Waltz, the U.S. ambassador to the global body, said that Hamas hasn’t fulfilled its obligations under the deal. He called for the terror group to return the bodies of hostages it was obligated to release under the deal.
U.S. President Donald Trump “is not playing games here,” the U.S. envoy said. “Hamas is finished in Gaza and does not have a future there.” Waltz also threatened severe consequences if Hamas doesn’t disarm.
The council continues to work on a resolution that would create a framework and backing for an international stabilization force to lead security in Gaza during a transitional period.
Multiple sources told JNS that Washington backs the crafting of the resolution, and the Egyptian foreign minister said earlier in the week that Cairo intends to lead the force.
