The UN Human Rights Council downplayed the human losses Israel suffered following attacks by the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas, in a publication that also criticizes the Jewish nation for its “illegal foreign occupation.”
This Monday, the UN Council shared a video on social media highlighting that the international organization observed a minute of silence "for the loss of innocent lives in the occupied Palestinian territory and elsewhere."
The United Nations did not mention in its publication the 900 Israelis killed during the violent operations carried out by Hamas. However, it did add a video featuring Ambassador Zaman Mehdi, Pakistan's deputy representative to the UN, suggesting that Israel is responsible for the deaths.
“Regrettably, this huge loss of lives and unabated violence is a sad reminder of more than seven decades of illegal foreign occupation, aggression and disrespect for the international law,” he mentioned.
Mehdi also took the opportunity to point out that Israel's declaration of war "is deeply distressing."
“The so-called declaration of war and attacks on civilian population and their properties is deeply distressing. We remain concerned about the human cost of the escalating situation,” he said.
On Monday afternoon, the @UN Human Rights Council observed a moment of silence for the loss of innocent lives in the occupied Palestinian territory and elsewhere.#HRC54 pic.twitter.com/9cgQDoQAyF
— United Nations Human Rights Council | 📍 #HRC54 (@UN_HRC) October 9, 2023
Later, Medhi asked all members of the Human Rights Council to stand up to observe a minute of silence, and in the video, you can see the moment in which they all accompany the representative of Pakistan.
However, the permanent representative of the United States to the Human Rights Council, Michèle Taylor, took advantage of her turn to also ask for a minute of silence and to reaffirm “a united stand against terrorism and violence.”
“The United States unequivocally condemns these heinous acts of terrorism. We extend our deepest condolences to the families affected and express our solidarity with the people and government of Israel in these trying times,” she said.
The @UN Human Rights Council observed a moment of silence to honour the victims of Hamas attacks against #Israel.#HRC54 pic.twitter.com/HdaFZbfVxa
— United Nations Human Rights Council | 📍 #HRC54 (@UN_HRC) October 9, 2023
