The war in Gaza was started and is prolonged by Hamas

By 5 p.m. EST., on Tuesday, Dec. 19, the U.N. Security Council was supposed to vote on a resolution to stop the war in Gaza to deal with the humanitarian crisis in the enclave. By 3:45 p.m., word came out the vote was delayed for a day and is expected today, on Wednesday, if consensus is achieved.

The reason for the delay is simple: the draft demanded a “cessation” of the war, effectively blocking Israel’s stated objective to decimate Hamas terrorist organization. And ignored Israel’s right to self-defense.

The clearest indication that such a resolution will not pass without appropriate modifications to language came from National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby earlier today. “It’s important for us,” Kirby said, “that the rest of the world understand what’s at stake here and what Hamas did on the 7th of October and how Israel has a right to defend itself against those threats.”

Now, world states are working on replacing the word ‘cessation’ with ‘suspension’, which leaves room for future Israeli action against Hamas. We are waiting to see if the final draft will acknowledge Israel’s right to self-defense.

I have met U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres and his predecessors in the past. This is why I raised my voice to ask diplomats and states drafting the resolution a simple question: The war in Gaza was started by Hamas, not Israel. Why do U.N. draft resolutions find it difficult to say this?

I posed this question on our platforms on X/Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Please share widely.

A reasonable U.N. Security Council resolution would note that the war continues because:

One, a terror group refuses to release Israeli hostages; Two, won’t lay down arms; and Three, won’t hand over those responsible for the Oct. 7 massacre.

A reasonable U.N. resolution would not that civilians die in Gaza because Hamas rushes to hide in safe zones that Israel designated for civilians instead of fighting a war that it started.

U.N. member states have a choice: hold a terror group responsible or show anti-Israel bias and lose credibility.

The choice is clear.