DaysofPal- Former Israeli peace negotiator Daniel Levy delivered a powerful speech at the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday, highlighting the devastating toll of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, particularly on Palestinian children.
Levy emphasized the enormity of the loss, saying that it would take more than 300 hours to observe a minute of silence for each of the 18,000 Palestinian children that Israel has killed in Gaza.
“A minute of silence for each of the Bibas children would be appropriate, as would a minute of silence for each of the more than 18,000 Palestinian children murdered in Israel’s devastation of Gaza. That silence would extend to over 300 hours,” he told the Security Council.
Levy emphasized the importance of upholding international humanitarian laws and ensuring that justice applies equally to all people. He emphasized the need to hold Israel responsible for its deeds and the need to prevent it from acting without consequence.
Addressing the selective nature of humanitarian concerns, Levy urged the international community to enforce international resolutions, conventions, and the UN Charter to protect Palestinian lives. He also praised the resilience of the Palestinian people despite the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe caused by what he termed Israeli genocide.
Levy paid tribute to Palestinian victims, highlighting individual cases to underscore the human cost of the war. He reminded the audience of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, who remains in Israeli detention under harsh conditions.
He said that “we should not forget the names of the Bibas family’s children, Ariel and Kafier, and the circumstances of their death.”
“Nor should we forget the name of Leila al-Khatib, the two-year-old Palestinian girl who was killed a few days ago in her home in the occupied West Bank, just days ago while eating dinner with her family, or five-year-old Hind Rajab who was bombed and denied medical care and died with her family,” he added.
In a direct rebuke of policies that seek to expel Palestinians from their land, Levy warned against forced displacement and criticized U.S. support for such actions.
“The unlawful forced displacement of Palestinians must not be endorsed or encouraged by any state, let alone a permanent member of the Security Council,” he stated.
Levy drew historical parallels between Israel’s treatment of Palestinians and apartheid-era South Africa, arguing that Israel’s actions have undermined the very principles of the UN Charter.
“It is the kind of affront which, decades ago, led to apartheid South Africa being suspended from active participation at the UN,” he said.
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