Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva said on Monday that the World Organization had “let down” her country and that the heads of its agencies had not done enough to condemn the Palestinian movement Hamas and growing anti-Semitism.
“I must say, in general, the United Nations has failed the Israeli people – Israeli ambassador Meirav Eilon Shahar told reporters, adding that some heads of UN agencies did not condemn the attacks on October 7, when Hamas killed 1,400 people and took more than 200 hostages.”
“What happens when you have an organization that works here in Geneva, the WHO, to start talking about Gaza the next day on October 8?,” she asked.
Eilon Shahar appeared to be referring to comments by World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on social media platform X, who expressed concern over the civilian deaths in Gaza a day after the attacks, the deadliest in Israel since the country’s founding in 1948 .
The WHO did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Since the Hamas incursion, Israel has responded with retaliatory airstrikes and a ground offensive, killing more than 8,000 Palestinians, Gaza medical officials said, prompting calls for a ceasefire or at least a humanitarian pause, even from some of Israel’s closest allies.
Her comments followed Israel’s criticism of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, whom he accused of justifying Hamas attacks on Israel. Guterres rejected Israel’s accusations, calling them a misrepresentation of his statements.
Eilon Shahar also said she expects international organizations to point to growing anti-Semitism and hints of Hamas operations in Gaza, including what the Israeli military says are under Gaza’s main hospital.
“We shared a lot of information and we expect that the international community and international organizations, including the WHO, but not only, will condemn Hamas for using those protected facilities for military use,” she said, according to Reuters.
