Nikki Haley
On May 15, US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley attempted to justify Israel’s use of force against Palestinians protestors during the May 14 causalities at the Gaza border, ABC News reported.
Addressing to the UN Security Council at a special session Haley stressed that “no country would act with greater restraint than Israel”. The US ambassador reaffirmed the earlier accusations made by the White House that Hamas had been responsible for the deaths.
“Let’s remember that the Hamas terrorist organization has been inciting violence for years, long before the United States decided to move our embassy,” Haley said.
Haley pointed out that “the location of the embassy has no bearing on the specific boundaries of Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem” and “it does not undermine the prospects for peace in any way.”
When Palestinian Ambassador to the UN Riyad H. Mansour began to speak, Haley left the UN Security Council meeting. Mansour responded to the US statement calling for a “transparent, independent, and international inquiry to be conducted.”
According to ABC News, ahead the session Israel’s Permanent Representative to the UN Danny Danon told reporters that Hamas had committed a “double war crime” for inciting both Israel and its own people. During the session, Danon stressed that Hamas must be told “that violence is not the answer.”
During the May 14 clashes at the Gaza border, 59 Palestinian protesters were killed and over 2,771 were injured by Israeli forces. The demonstrations were held amid the US embassy inauguration in Jerusalem, which took place on the same day. The Israeli actions the international condemnation.
On the same day, commenting on Israel’s actions at the Gaza border, White House Principal Deputy spokesman Raj Shah emphasized that “Hamas is intentionally and cynically provoking this response and as the Secretary of State said, Israel has the right to defend itself.”
