The United Nations (UN) Security Council meeting on Monday saw heated exchanges as Palestinian and Israeli envoys clashed over humanitarian aid distribution and aid worker killings in Gaza.
In his speech, Palestinian Deputy Permanent Observer to the UN Majed Bamya called for the ceasefire, the release of hostages and prisoners, the distribution of humanitarian aids, and the withdrawal of the Israeli forces, which was later contradicted by Israeli Permanent Representative to the UN Danny Danon, saying the release of Israeli hostages is the premise of ceasefire and aids.
Danon added that the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) "in a single month has delivered more than 46 million meals," with their "speed and efficiency rapidly increasing." But he condemned Hamas for the "murder" of the GHF staff, as the U.S.-backed organization claimed that at least five of its workers were killed by Hamas on June 11 during an aid delivery mission.
The Israeli envoy also condemned the UN for its silence over the case.
"Hamas terrorists murdered clearly identified GHF (Gaza Humanitarian Foundation) staff as they were returning from a day of feeding Gazan civilians. Horrible pictures. They stopped the bus, tortured them in the middle of the road and executed them. The Secretary-General said nothing, OCHA (UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) nothing, UNRWA (UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) nothing," said Danon.
The Palestinian envoy strongly challenged the Israeli delegation over its alleged attacks on aid workers, denouncing Israel for its recent attacks on starving Gazan civilians at aid sites.
Bamya said Palestinians "are being shot at like animals," urging aids to be distributed "in a dignified manner to all Palestinians," instead of "force them to displace, squeeze them" to a small place and "further humiliate them." "We ask to be treated as human beings, that's not too much to ask, and it is a bit insulting to suggest that we are not entitled to be treated that way, that we should take whatever is thrown out the way and be thankful. Speaking about attacks on aid workers, you want to go there? Attacks on aid workers? Humanitarian personnel? UN staff? Attacks on aid workers? You spoke of Hamas..." Bamya didn't finish with Danon's crosstalk, later both halted by Security Council President Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett.
"Colleagues... Colleagues... I just wish to remind that the decorum of the council be kept, and that we refrain from any personal attacks or even crosstalk," Birkett intervened.
More than 550 Palestinians have been killed while attempting to access aid at distribution sites set up by the GHF, a private agency backed by the United States and Israel and operating outside of established UN and traditional humanitarian organizations since late May.
The UN and aid groups have expressed alarm at the near-daily reports of Palestinians being killed near the GHF's sites, which are inside Israeli military zones. The international community has repeatedly condemned the attacks on Palestinians near food sites, calling the aid centers as "death traps."
Palestinian, Israeli envoys to UN clash over aid worker killings in Gaza
