In a provocative move at the United Nations (UN), Israel’s Ambassador, Gilad Erdan, wore a yellow star on his chest while addressing the Security Council. His symbolic gesture, a reference to the yellow stars Jews were forced to wear during the Nazi era, was a solemn pledge to continue wearing the badge until the UN members condemned what he termed as “atrocities” committed by Hamas.
“Some of you have learned nothing in the past 80 years. Some of you have forgotten why this body was established,” Ambassador Gilad Erdan declared as he criticized the Security Council’s silence in the face of what he described as unprecedented deadly attacks by Hamas against Israel on October 7.
The deeply divided Security Council, consisting of 15 members, has failed to pass any resolutions regarding the three-week-long conflict between Israel and Hamas.
In response to the Security Council’s inaction, Ambassador Erdan made a solemn commitment. “So, I will remind you. From this day on, each time you look at me, you will remember what staying silent in the face of evil means,” he asserted.
Erdan then affixed a yellow star to his suit, inscribed with the words “Never Again.” This was a direct reference to the yellow stars that Jews were forced to wear during the Holocaust. However, Erdan emphasized that he and his team would wear this star “as a symbol of pride.”
“We will wear this star until you wake up and condemn the atrocities of Hamas,” Erdan concluded.
The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, had previously described the October 7 attacks as the worst against the Jewish people since the Holocaust.
The UN Security Council has faced deep divisions over the Israel-Hamas conflict, with four draft resolutions related to the conflict being rejected.
Some of these texts were blocked, with the United States, a close ally of Israel, objecting because they did not include language recognizing Israel’s right to self-defense. Other resolutions were stymied by Russia and China, primarily because they did not explicitly call for a ceasefire.
Given the deadlock in the Security Council, the UN General Assembly passed a nonbinding resolution on Friday. The resolution called for an “immediate humanitarian truce” but did not explicitly mention Hamas.
Israel, represented by Ambassador Erdan, strongly criticized the text, stating that it would “go down as infamy.”
While the Security Council meeting on Monday focused on condemning Hamas attacks, several speakers highlighted the toll borne by Gaza residents, where health officials reported that over 8,300 people have been killed in the Hamas-controlled Palestinian territory.
Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), emphasized that the Gaza siege amounted to collective punishment for its residents.
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