In a charged address to the United Nations Security Council, Palestinian envoy Riyad Mansour issued a powerful warning, demanding urgent action against what he termed a “genocide” in Gaza. “Stop this genocide, or forever remain silent,” Mansour declared, urging the Council to transform its words into meaningful intervention. As violence in Gaza escalates, Mansour’s speech struck a deep chord, highlighting the suffering faced by Palestinians under the continuous siege.
Mansour accused Israel of systematically disregarding international law, engaging in what he described as “crimes beyond comprehension.” He charged that Israel was “betting that its will to kill and colonize will outweigh the collective will of the international community to save lives and achieve freedom and peace.” His remarks highlighted the dire conditions facing Gaza’s residents, who, under the blockade, find themselves trapped with no safe refuge.
The Palestinian envoy did not hold back in listing actions he views as violations of international norms, including the targeting of civilians, humanitarian workers, and journalists—deaths that Mansour emphasized have largely gone without accountability. “Israel wants to rewrite international law to consider that indiscriminate killing, targeting civilians… starvation as a method of war, arbitrary detention, abductions and torture… are all legal as long as they are committed by Israel,” Mansour argued, asserting that the atrocities carried out are no longer isolated incidents but part of a broader agenda.
Mansour took a bold stance against what he described as attempts to create a “racist, supremacist, and inhumane legal order.” He posed a rhetorical challenge to the Security Council: “Will you allow Israel to dehumanize us further as part of its attempt to erase us?” He implored the Council members to consider whether the destruction of Palestinian lives and culture was “acceptable” or a reality that they were prepared to disregard.
Describing the devastating toll on Gaza’s northern regions, Mansour reminded the Council of the urgent need for action, saying, “There is a lot you can do. The Palestinian people did not surrender, neither should you.” He called upon the global community to acknowledge and act upon what he framed as an existential threat facing Palestinians, particularly given the escalating violence in the densely populated coastal enclave.
In a somber conclusion, Mansour left the chamber with a message intended to resonate: “This seat is not empty. It is filled with people enduring unspeakable pain that cannot reach you. You have to reach them.” His remarks underscored the obligation he believes the UN has to act as a voice for the Palestinians, urging the Council to uphold its mandate to protect those suffering under siege.
As the death toll rises and Gaza’s humanitarian crisis deepens, Mansour’s speech has amplified calls for a strong and decisive response from the international community. Yet, with political tensions at an all-time high, will the Security Council heed this urgent appeal, or will the cries for intervention be drowned out by geopolitical silence?
