Israel: The UN Security Council Has Not Taken Action for the Release of Hostages in Gaza

Gilad Erdan, Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, stated on Thursday, May 17, during a Security Council meeting regarding the status of the country's hostages, that the Security Council has not done anything to free the hostages to date. According to the Jerusalem Post, he added that if the Security Council truly wants to end the war in Gaza, it must prioritize the issue of hostage release. The UN Security Council has so far called for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages in three resolutions. The militant group Hamas, supported by the Islamic Republic, took 250 hostages after the attack on Israel on October 7 of last year, of which about 100 were released two months later under a ceasefire agreement. Meanwhile, a senior Hamas official claimed on Thursday, May 17, that 70% of Hamas hostages have lost their lives. Khalil al-Hayya, in an interview with the Al-Manar network, affiliated with Hezbollah, said that Israel wants to free its 'prisoners' by military force but does not know that 70% of them have been killed in bombings. Additionally, the Times of Israel reported that Gilad Erdan mentioned that 132 hostages remain in Gaza and noted that 'this is the first meeting where a UN body focuses on the suffering and ways to free them,' adding that 'the hostages are the most urgent and vital humanitarian issue that the council should focus on.' He raised questions such as 'Has the Security Council condemned Hamas and asked them to allow the Red Cross to check on the hostages, and has it sanctioned Hamas leadership until the hostages are released?' He stated that over the past 32 weeks, the Security Council and the UN have practically done nothing to free them. The Israeli ambassador to the UN called this situation 'heartbreaking and unethical' and pointed out that 'our hostages are enduring beatings, torture, and sexual assault.' The report indicates that the focus of the United States in this meeting, as the first meeting held at the UN solely on the issue of hostages held by Hamas, was to condemn the hostage-taking in Israel on October 7 as a 'psychological tool of terrorism.' Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US ambassador to the UN, stated in this meeting held in the UN conference room that the request of the US, all Israelis, and many others is simple: that the hostages return home. She added that this is a responsibility that the President of the United States is committed to fulfilling. Ms. Thomas-Greenfield further described hostage-taking as a 'cowardly' act done to instill fear in others and advance wicked agendas, while also violating the basic principles of humanity. The US ambassador to the UN urged Hamas to release all remaining hostages, adding that this action would save many lives on both sides. Meanwhile, according to the Times of Israel, Sangjin Kim, the deputy ambassador of South Korea to the UN, was unable to continue his remarks while speaking about one of the hostages due to emotional distress. According to the report, all 15 members of the Security Council unanimously condemned hostage-taking, but Russia, China, and Algeria, representing 22 Arab countries in the council, condemned Israel's attack on Gaza. Ahmed Sahraoui, an Algerian diplomat, stated that 'in the occupied Palestinian territories, we are witnessing the brutal killing machine of the Israeli occupier wreaking havoc under the pretext of freeing hostages in Gaza.' Georgy Barsukov, a Russian diplomat, also stated in this meeting that his country has explicitly condemned Hamas's hostage-taking but criticized what he called 'genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.' He also criticized Israel for defying the overwhelming majority of the international community's demands and conducting military operations in Rafah, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinian civilians reside. Israel's attack on Gaza was a response to Hamas's attacks on October 7 of last year, which left at least 1,200 dead, most of whom were civilians. The Gaza Health Ministry, controlled by Hamas, states that over 35,000 people have been killed in Gaza so far, but Israel, which accuses Hamas of using human shields, claims that the figures released by Hamas are unverifiable and include about 15,000 militants killed in the war. The future of Gaza after the removal of Hamas is a new point of contention in Israel; there is no sign of a ceasefire. The Arab League has called for the deployment of UN peacekeeping forces to 'Palestinian territories.' The Palestinian Authority states that three people were killed in an Israeli attack in the West Bank. Netanyahu: I am not willing to replace 'Hamasistan' with 'Fatahistan.' South Africa's fourth complaint against Israel; five Israeli soldiers were killed in 'friendly fire.' The US military has completed and deployed a floating dock for delivering aid to Gaza. Haniyeh says any plan for 'Gaza after the war' without Hamas's presence is doomed to failure. The European Union has urged Israel to end operations in Rafah immediately; Netanyahu: It must be done. Continued clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants in southern and northern Gaza.