United Nations: Numerous members of the UN Security Council denounced Hamas on Sunday over its massive assault on Israel but the United States regretted the lack of unanimity.
At an emergency session, the United States and Israel urged strong condemnation of the Palestinian Islamists, who rule the blockaded Gaza Strip and launched a surprise assault on Saturday in fighting that, has claimed more than 1,000 lives.
“There are a good number of countries that condemned the Hamas attacks. They’re obviously not all,” senior US diplomat Robert Wood told reporters after the closed-door session.
Diplomats said the Security Council did not consider any joint statement, let alone a binding resolution, with members led by Russia hoping for a broader focus than condemning Hamas.
China, generally Russia’s ally at the Security Council, said it would support a joint statement.
Entering the session, Israel’s ambassador, Gilad Erdan, showed graphic pictures of Israeli civilians being taken captive by Hamas. “These are war crimes — blatant, documented war crimes. This unimaginable — unimaginable — atrocity must be condemned. Israel must be given steadfast support to defend ourselves — to defend the free world,” he said of the Security Council.
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