The United Nations has caused an uproar among many citizens of the world after an official recently claimed that Israel does not have the right to defend itself against violence and attacks from the Hamas terrorist group. This statement has been met with both shock and dismay by many people and organizations who see the necessity of Israel’s right to protect itself and its citizens.
Hamas, short for “Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya” or “Islamic Resistance Movement,” is an Islamic organization that has been designated a terrorist group by many countries and is seen by many as the primary aggressor in the ongoing conflict between it and Israel. The US Department of State has designated Hamas as a “Foreign Terrorist Organization,” citing its use of suicide bombings, rocket attacks, and other forms of violence against Israeli citizens as justification. The UN official’s comments in this regard have thus raised many questions about the UN’s commitment to human rights and the protection of civilians in the Middle East.
At the crux of the matter is the idea that Israel should not use violence in the face of violence from Hamas, and that all disputes should be solved through political and diplomatic means. This position ignores the reality that Hamas has not been open to any sort of negotiations or peace talks over the past several decades. The group continues to fire rockets at Israeli citizens, traumatizing and harming thousands in the process, and its refusal to recognize the state of Israel’s right to exist puts this debate into an entirely different category.
The UN official, when asked to clarify his comments, simply stated that the UN’s goal is to ensure the protection of civilians in all conflict zones, but it is hard to ignore the hypocrisy of this position when it does not place the same value on the protection of Israeli civilians. The UN should take a clear stance against the violence perpetrated by Hamas, and condemn its actions instead of suggesting that Israel does not have the right to defend itself or its citizens.
The UN official’s comments have angered many in the international community, and have cast some doubt on the organization’s ability to remain an impartial arbiter of world disputes. Those who believe in the right of Israel to defend itself and its citizens must stand united in the face of this statement and demand that the UN retract this false and inflammatory opinion.
The United Nations has caused an uproar among many citizens of the world after an official recently claimed that Israel does not have the right to defend itself against violence and attacks from the Hamas terrorist group. This statement has been met with both shock and dismay by many people and organizations who see the necessity of Israel’s right to protect itself and its citizens.
Hamas, short for “Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya” or “Islamic Resistance Movement,” is an Islamic organization that has been designated a terrorist group by many countries and is seen by many as the primary aggressor in the ongoing conflict between it and Israel. The US Department of State has designated Hamas as a “Foreign Terrorist Organization,” citing its use of suicide bombings, rocket attacks, and other forms of violence against Israeli citizens as justification. The UN official’s comments in this regard have thus raised many questions about the UN’s commitment to human rights and the protection of civilians in the Middle East.
At the crux of the matter is the idea that Israel should not use violence in the face of violence from Hamas, and that all disputes should be solved through political and diplomatic means. This position ignores the reality that Hamas has not been open to any sort of negotiations or peace talks over the past several decades. The group continues to fire rockets at Israeli citizens, traumatizing and harming thousands in the process, and its refusal to recognize the state of Israel’s right to exist puts this debate into an entirely different category.
The UN official, when asked to clarify his comments, simply stated that the UN’s goal is to ensure the protection of civilians in all conflict zones, but it is hard to ignore the hypocrisy of this position when it does not place the same value on the protection of Israeli civilians. The UN should take a clear stance against the violence perpetrated by Hamas, and condemn its actions instead of suggesting that Israel does not have the right to defend itself or its citizens.
The UN official’s comments have angered many in the international community, and have cast some doubt on the organization’s ability to remain an impartial arbiter of world disputes. Those who believe in the right of Israel to defend itself and its citizens must stand united in the face of this statement and demand that the UN retract this false and inflammatory opinion.
