From the Liveblog of
Monday, March 11, 2024
Katz demands Security Council blacklist Hamas
Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
Addressing the UN Security Council, Foreign Minister Israel Katz asks the 15 members to declare Hamas a terrorist organization and to pressure the group to release all hostages.
“Hamas must be declared a terrorist organization and face the most heavy sanctions possible,” Katz says.
He demands that the UNSC “put as much pressure as possible on the Hamas organization to release immediately and unconditionally all the kidnapped hostages.”
“Please try your utmost to stop this living hell on earth,” Katz implores, adding that the countries on the council have the opportunity to save 134 innocent people.
Israel has told the families of the hostages, some of whom have joined Katz in New York, that 31 of the hostages are dead.
Katz calls out the UN for being “silent on Hamas actions.”
“During the last five months and 41 sessions the UN convened since October 7th, the UN never condemned nor disapproved these Hamas brutal crimes,” he says.
Blessing Muslims with “Ramadan Kareem” at the start of Ramadan, Katz says that “Hamas is not speaking on behalf of the Muslim world, and we are asking you to condemn the sexual violence crimes these barbarians committed in the name of the Muslim religion.”
Katz also thanks the US, France, and the UK for calling the emergency session, and to Japan, Security Council president, for allowing the meeting.
