UNITED NATIONS, Aug 01 (APP): UN Security Council members on Wednesday condemned the assassination of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, and
called for stepped-up diplomatic efforts to avert a wider Middle East conflict as tensions sharply escalated across the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 15-member Council convened for an emergency session on the killing of Haniyeh at the request of Iran, which was supported by Russia, Algeria and China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Hamas chief\u2019s assassination occurred less than 24 hours after Hezbollah\u2019s most senior military commander was killed in an Israeli strike on the Lebanese capital Beirut in retaliation for a rocket attack in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Security Council should take immediate steps to hold Israel accountable for this act of aggression,\u201d Iranian Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani told the Security Council.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis includes considering the imposition of sanctions and other measures that are necessary to prevent further violations and to signal that Israeli malevolent activities will not be tolerated by the international community,\u201d Iravani said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Iran and Hamas blame Israel for the airstrike that killed the Hamas leader, who was in Iran attending the inauguration of President Masoud Pezeshkian. Israel has not claimed the attack but is widely presumed to have carried it out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Israeli officials, however, were quick to take responsibility for an airstrike on Tuesday in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, that killed the Hezbollah commander Fouad Shukr.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In his remarks, the Iranian ambassador denounced the \u201ccowardly assassination\u2026by Israel\u201d of Haniyeh, saying , \u201cThis act of terror is another manifestation of Israel\u2019s decades-long pattern of terrorism and sabotage targeting Palestinians and other supporters of the Palestinian cause across the region and beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to its terrorist objective, Israel was also pursuing political goals, aiming to disrupt the first day of the new Government of Iran that has prioritized peace and stability in the region, he alleged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He strongly condemned the \u201chorrible act\u201d as the most serious violation of international law and the UN Charter, urging \u201cimmediate and effective action\u201d by the Security Council.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Feda Abdelhady, Deputy Permanent Observer of Palestine to the UN, said that it had been nearly 300 days since the start of Israel\u2019s war in Gaza, which has \u201cgravely breached all tenets of international law\u201d and flagrantly violated the UN Charter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA war that threatens international peace and security. Yet, Israel is being permitted to wage this war in broad daylight, with no restraints and no consequences,\u201d she said, adding that \u201cevery day brings more horrors, losses and suffering for our people as Israeli occupying forces murder Palestinian children, women and men.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ms. Abdelhady \u201cunequivocally condemned\u201d the breach of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Iran as well as of Lebanon, Syria and Yemen, by Israel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe call once again with utmost urgency on the Security Council, the General Assembly and all law-abiding, peace-loving nations to act forthwith to bring a halt to these horrific, criminal Israeli aggressions against the Palestinian people and on our region,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lebanese Ambassador and Permanent Representative Hadi Hachem said his country and its people \u201cdo not want war\u201d, adding that Beirut has presented a roadmap to ensure security and break the cycle of violence, but has not yet received a response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the same time, Israel\u2019s attack on the capital had resulted in deaths and injuries, he said, adding that such an act demonstrates its true intentions. In the same vein, Israel\u2019s killing today of two journalists shows a pattern of targeting media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ending Israel\u2019s occupation of Arab lands is essential if the region is to return to calm and stability, the Lebanese envoy said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That requires good faith, he continued, however, Israel\u2019s behaviour demonstrates otherwise and its claims of self-defence in occupied territories are not valid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHistory will spare no one; what starts in the Middle East will spread to the whole world,\u201d he warned, calling on the Council to take a stand \u201cbefore it is too late\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Algerian Ambassador and Permanent Representative Amar Bendjama condemned the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh by Israel as \u201cnot merely an attack on one man\u201d but \u201ca vicious assault on the very foundations of diplomatic relations, the sanctity of State sovereignty and the principles that underpin our global order\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He called for full accountability for Israel\u2019s \u201cheinous war crimes\u201d and \u201cegregious human rights violations\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
United States Ambassador Robert Wood and Deputy Permanent Representative, underscored Israel\u2019s right to self-defence, stating that his country was not involved in the strikes on Lebanon or in the apparent death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He urged Council members with direct influence over Iran to increase pressure on the country to stop escalating its proxy conflict against Israel and other actors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Syrian Ambassador and Permanent Representative Koussay Aldahhak said the Israeli occupying entity \u201chad committed a grave crime\u201d in Majdal Shams that led to the death of 12 children in Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, which \u201cis and always has been\u201d Syrian territory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reiterating that fellow citizens in the occupied-Syrian Golan have always been part of Syria, he said they call for Israeli practices against them to end. An occupying power cannot claim that they are defending themselves under Article 51 of the UN Charter, he stressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Syria condemns Israeli aggression on States in the region, including the assassination of Haniyeh in Iran and the killing of citizens in Lebanon. Meanwhile, he said, Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe war criminals in Israel would not be able to continue without support,\u201d the Syrian envoy said, calling on the Council to immediately put an end to these crimes and ensure accountability.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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