UN Human Rights Council Special Session on Gaza
May 18, 2018

UN High Commissioner Zeid: “Eighty-seven Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli security forces, and over 12,000 people have been injured…The stark contrast in casualties on both sides is also suggestive of a wholly disproportionate response: on the Israeli side, one soldier was reportedly wounded, slightly, by a stone….  the population of Gaza are caged in a toxic slum from birth to death, dehumanized by the Israeli authorities…”

PLO: “None of the civilians used any firearm or lethal weapon… [For Israel] those who were killed from amongst the protesters have no value, just like Nazis… Criminal acts of the Israeli occupation forces against civilians…”

UAE for Arab Group:  “We deeply condemn Israel’s repression of Palestinian protesters, collective punishment… We call for an international inquiry to put a prompt end to repression…”

Qatar: We condemn massacres and gross violations of the occupying forces. Women, children, and journalists have been killed.”

Iraq:  “Horrific violations by Israeli forces…”

UN Watch, Colonel Richard Kemp: 

I have the honour to take the floor on behalf of United Nations Watch.

I commanded British troops in Afghanistan, Iraq, the Balkans and Northern Ireland, and served with NATO and the United Nations. I have come straight from the Gaza front line to share my assessment. 

Based on what I observed, I can say that everything we just heard here is a complete distortion of the truth.

The truth is that Hamas, a terrorist organization that seeks the destruction of Israel and murder of Jews everywhere, deliberately caused over 60 of its own people to get killed.

They sent thousands of civilians to the front line — as human shields for terrorists trying to break through the border.

Hamas’s goal, in their own words, was “blood… in the path of Jihad.”

I ask every country in this Council: You have all been telling us that Israel should have reacted differently.  But how would you respond if a Jihadist terror group sent thousands to flood your borders, and gunmen to massacre your communities?

Your failure to admit that Hamas is responsible for every drop of blood spilt on the Gaza border encourages their violence and use of human shields. It makes you complicit in further bloodshed.

If Israel had allowed these mobs to break through the fence, the IDF would then have been forced to defend their own civilians from slaughter and many more Palestinians would have been killed.

Israel’s actions therefore saved lives of Gazans; and if this Council really cared about human rights, it should commend the Israel Defence Force for that, not condemn them on the basis of lies.