A meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the Middle East was briefly interrupted on Wednesday when two protesters stood with signs and yelled for the release of Israeli hostages held by Palestinian terror group Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
The demonstration by two women came as Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov began to address the 15-member body after a statement by Israel’s UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan. Protests inside the UN headquarters in New York are rare.
Lavrov, who was chairing the meeting because Russia is the council president for July, responded: “I don’t understand, speak more clearly. One of you can speak clearly to say what you want to say. I see you don’t wish to do so, very well.”
Diplomats in the Security Council chamber said the women, dressed in black, yelled “free the hostages.” UN security asked the women to leave the chamber and they did so, a UN official said.
One of the women was later identified as Israel Teachers Union chief Yaffa Ben David, who was holding up a picture of hostage Ohad Yahalomi.
Israel’s UN mission did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the protest.
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From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, July 17, 2024
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