Israeli envoy to UN calls on Ban Ki-Moon, Security Council to condemn Hamas

WASHINGTON — Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Ron Prosor called today on the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and the UN Security Council to condemn Hamas in light of its violation of yet another ceasefire and designate Hamas as a terrorist organization.

“It is time for the United Nations and its agencies to finally place the blame where it belongs – on Hamas,” Prosor writes in a letter that he delivered to Security Council officials and to the UN Secretary General earlier. “To be clear, Hamas started this conflict, Hamas is responsible for the humanitarian tragedy, and Hamas must be held accountable.”

Prosor calls on both Ban and the Security Council to “immediately and unequivocally” condemn Hamas “in the strongest possible terms for violating the ceasefire”; support Israel’s right to defend its citizens; demand the demilitarization of Gaza and designate Hamas as a terrorist organization.

Prosor reminded the UN officials that “Israel agreed to every cease-fire proposal in an effort to restore the calm and allow civilians on both sides to return to normal life” and says that Hamas’s violation of the ceasefire proved “once again that it has no regard for the well-being of the Palestinian people.”

— Rebecca Shimoni Stoil