December 8, 2023
Riyad H. Mansour, Permanent Observer for the State of Palestine, stated “this is the moment of truth”, a turning point in history, yet it is beyond regrettable and disastrous that the Council was prevented from upholding its responsibility in the face of this grave crisis threatening lives and regional security. Every single Palestinian life is sacred; however, after two months of massacres and atrocities, the war criminals are given more time to perpetuate their crimes, he said, warning that hundreds of people will be killed by this time tomorrow, including children — not by mistake but by design.
He also warned that the humanitarian catastrophe will reach terrifying new depths, with 2.3 million Palestinians paying with their lives the price of double standards and bias, racism and Israeli exceptionalism. He thanked the nearly 100 countries who in less than a day’s time rallied to co-sponsor the draft resolution, and those Council members who voted in favour. “This is a terrible day for the Security Council,” he stressed, rejecting the result of the vote and renewing the call for a ceasefire and a resumed General Assembly emergency session.