Israel’s UN envoy sounds the alarm

Earlier Thursday, in a moment of drama at the UN, Israel’s ambassador suddenly played the piercing 15-second siren that warns Israelis to run to bomb shelters to escape rocket attacks — a move designed to highlight the threat his country faces. Ron Prosor told the council that Hamas is “intentionally and indiscriminately” threatening 3.5 million Israelis and “no nation, no people and no government could tolerate this.”

Palestinian UN envoy Riyad Mansour said he had no props for his appeal to the council “to stop the bleeding” and revive the Palestinians’ “dying hopes” for an end to the conflict and peace with freedom. “I speak on behalf of the suffering and grieving Palestinian people, who are enduring yet another barrage of death, destruction, trauma and terror,” he said.

Diplomats claimed Jordan has circulated a press statement, which is not legally binding, for the Security Council’s consideration that would call for a cease-fire.

The draft calls for “immediate calm and ending the hostilities in Gaza including the launching of rocket attacks,” restoration of the 2012 cease-fire and resumption of direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations aimed at a comprehensive peace agreement and a two-state solution. It also calls for protection of civilians.

— AP