For many years, Israel has engaged with the United Nations, often despite reservations. I’ve been involved in many discussions with UN representatives, negotiating firmly to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches civilians in Gaza. My responsibilities included overseeing budgets, coordinating safe routes for aid, and maintaining daily dialogues on essentials like food and medicine. We do this not just because of Hamas but because we, as Israelis, value human life beyond the battlefield.
Yet, despite our efforts, the same organizations that facilitate our assistance seem to direct hostility towards us. Rather than acknowledging Israel’s significant humanitarian actions, the UN continuously issues condemnations that feel more like predetermined accusations than diplomatic expressions. This isn’t neutrality; it feels more like enmity cloaked in legal language.
Cruz addresses UN’s “genocide” claims against Israel and advocates for action.
It’s hard to overlook the irony here: countries like Iran, North Korea, and Syria hold positions on the UN Council while Israel faces scrutiny in sham-like hearings. Meanwhile, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) oversees facilities in Gaza that, initially intended for education and healthcare, have been transformed into sites for Hamas rockets and militant operations.
The reality that UNRWA schools and clinics get used as military assets is often ignored to focus criticism on Israel. The Human Rights Council devotes disproportionate attention to Israel instead of addressing other global crises. This reflects a systemic issue stemming from an organization that appears to be set on undermining the Jewish state.
Recently, a UN report personally accused Israel of war crimes and labeled actions as genocidal.
As the Minister of Defense, I took pride in safeguarding Israel. If given the same situation again, I would act without hesitation. Leading the IDF, I established the principles of proportionality and distinction. It’s evident in modern warfare. No military has done more to warn civilians, through means like leaflets and warning shots, prior to striking terrorist targets. These are not default military actions; they showcase a nation’s conscience and accountability.
Conversely, Hamas launches missiles from schoolyards, uses hospitals as staging grounds, and coerces civilians to act as human shields, all while exploiting their suffering for propaganda.
At international platforms, particularly the UN, the truth rarely shines through. Israel faces impossible double standards. Criticism of the Israeli state outpaces that of nations committing documented atrocities, leading to a chilling conclusion: this is a new form of anti-Semitism.
The recent UN report referred to phrases used right after the October 7 incidents when terrorists from Gaza committed horrific acts against Israeli civilians. This language was initially directed towards those responsible for such violence. However, the report and subsequent accusations often distort facts and disregard the necessary context.
The last UN report shows a focus on selective blindness. There’s no discussion of Hamas’ network of tunnels or its use of civilian shields, nor any serious acknowledgment of the devastation they cause in Gaza. Instead, we see repeated statistics from Hamas treated as unbiased truth, while Israel’s actions are misrepresented and its humanitarian efforts ignored.
The committee appears to have arrived at its conclusions with a predetermined bias. It disregards the complexities of urban warfare and the extraordinary standards met by Israel. The claims of genocide are based on misinterpretations and deliberate misrepresentation. At no point have I or any other defense officials dehumanized Palestinians; our battles have always been against terrorism.
The international community is at a crossroads. It faces the choice of allowing the UN to remain a platform for bias or advocating for truth and accountability. Israel isn’t seeking retribution but justice. If the UN wishes to uphold its mission, it must apply the same standards to all parties involved. Humanitarian language shouldn’t be weaponized out of fear.
The UN was founded to prevent violations like those seen during the Holocaust. Today, however, it tolerates hate speech, enabling those intent on undermining Israel’s right to self-defense. By straying from fairness and truth, the UN betrays its founding principles.
Even if the world turns a blind eye, Israel will continue to defend itself and uphold its moral duties. History has shown that when the UN has sheltered bias and falsehoods, the Israeli people have remained steadfast and righteous.
