Dial 'S' for ceasefire: Israel's envoy to UN raises placard with Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar's phone number

In a strong message to the world, Israeli envoy to the UN Gilad Erdan said that a ceasefire is only possible when Hamas puts down its weapons and returns all hostages.

The UN General Assembly passed a resolution Tuesday demanding a ceasefire, backed by 153 of 193 nations — surpassing the 140 or so that have routinely condemned Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.

“In the urgent discussion at the General Assembly, I made it clear to all the ambassadors before the vote: if you want a real ceasefire, call the Hamas offices in Gaza and ask for Yahya Sinwar,” Erdan said as he held up the phone number of Hamas leader Yahya Silwar.

בדיון הדחוף בעצרת הכללית הבהרתי לכל השגרירים לפני ההצבעה: אם אתם רוצים הפסקת אש אמיתית, תתקשרו למשרדי חמאס בעזה ותבקשו את יחיא סינוואר. תגידו לו שכאשר חמאס יניחו את נשקם, יסגירו את עצמם ויחזירו את כל החטופים, אז תהיה הפסקת אש אמיתית שתימשך לתמיד.

צפו ורטווטו>> pic.twitter.com/1KDWtEm11R

— Ambassador Gilad Erdan גלעד ארדן (@giladerdan1) December 12, 2023

He added, “Tell him that when Hamas lays down its weapons, turns itself in and returns all the abductees, then there will be a real ceasefire that will last forever.”

While the United States and Israel voted against the resolution, it was supported by US allies Australia, Canada and New Zealand, who, in a rare joint statement, said they were “alarmed at the diminishing safe space for civilians in Gaza”.

The Israeli UN envoy asked the ambassadors in the room what would “Moscow, Beijing, or Istanbul would do if they were in Israel’s shoes. Hamas committed terrible crimes and those who support a ceasefire allow Hamas to continue to survive and commit more atrocities.”

During today’s meeting at the @UN, I told the ambassadors in the General Assembly that everyone in the room knows what Moscow, Beijing, or Istanbul would do if they were in Israel’s shoes. Hamas committed terrible crimes and those who support a ceasefire allow Hamas to continue… pic.twitter.com/IPi7NwJTK1

— Ambassador Gilad Erdan גלעד ארדן (@giladerdan1) December 12, 2023

The UN vote came after the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, Philippe Lazzarini, described the situation in Gaza as “hell on earth”.

“Back in #Gaza, endless deepening tragedy. People are everywhere, live in the street, need everything. They plead for safety & for an end to this hell on earth,” Lazzarini posted on X after a visit to the territory.

With inputs from agencies