Israel demanded Monday that the United Nations Security Council condemn the rocket fire poured down upon its residents in towns and cities throughout the southern region of the country.
Speaking to council members ahead of the UNSC meeting convened Monday morning to discuss recent developments in the region and the rising tensions along the Israel-Gaza border, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon pointed out, “The dozens of rockets fired from Gaza into Israel indicate a clear intention by terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip to escalate the situation.
“Israel is acting with determination and resolve to end the threat to its citizens. We will not hesitate to continue our defensive actions. The international community should condemn the rocket fire from Gaza and act against terrorist organizations,” Danon said.
The Security Council meeting opened with a status update by UN Envoy to the Middle East, Nickolay Mladenov, followed by a closed consultation of the council members.
In his review before the council, Mladenov noted, “The situation is escalating as we speak. The UN team is in contact with Egyptian officials on the ground. We call for a cessation of rocket fire against a civilian population, which violates international law.”
An Egyptian delegation did, in fact, attempt to broker a ceasefire with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group and convince them to stop launching rockets at Israel on Sunday, but the attempt was unsuccessful.