Israeli envoy to UN: Gaza casualties are victims of Hamas’s war crimes

Israel ambassador to the UN Danny Danon says every Palestinian casualty in Gaza “is a victim of Hamas’s war crimes.”

In a statement before an emergency session of the UN Security Council, Danon says: “Over the past month, Israel had to defend itself from the violent rioters along the security fence with Gaza. The rioters have thrown Molotov cocktails, planted explosive devices, and rolled burning tires. They have sent flaming materials over the fence and into Israel, spreading deadly fires across our fields. And they have tried, on multiple occasions, to break down the fence and infiltrate Israeli territory.”

He shows a photograph of the Kerem Shalom border crossing on fire, and adds, “Had the rioters broken down the fence and infiltrated Israel, there can be no doubt that the damage to Israeli towns and villages would have looked like this.”

“Hamas has committed war crimes not only against Israeli civilians but also against its own people – turning them into human shields for their own cynical gain. Every casualty that has resulted from the recent violence is a victim of Hamas’s war crimes.”