The United Nations decided today to include Israel in the “black list” of countries and entities accused of threatening the child population in conflict zones. The list, in which Hamas was also included, is attached to the annual report presented by the office of the secretary general, Antonio Guterres, which documents rights violations committed against children during armed conflicts. The list includes Russia, the Islamic State, al Qaeda, Boko Haram, Afghanistan, Iraq, Myanmar, Somalia, Yemen and Syria.
The inclusion of Israel in this list was denounced by the Israeli ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, who said he was “absolutely dismayed and nauseated” by the “immoral” decision adopted by the UN secretary general, in a video released by the Israeli Foreign Ministry. “Who needs to be blacklisted is the secretary general, whose decisions, since the war began and even before, incentivize Hamas terrorists to use children,” he added.
Israel’s response arrived shortly. “The United Nations blacklisted itself in history today by joining supporters of Hamas killers.” This is how Benjamin Netanyahu commented on the UN’s decision to include Israel in the blacklist of countries and entities that violate the rights of children in conflict zones. “The Israeli army is the most moral in the world and no crazy decision by the UN will be able to change this,” added the Israeli prime minister.
