Former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley Warns UN about Iran-Backed Hamas
In 2018, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley issued a warning to the United Nations Security Council regarding the terror threat posed by Hamas, a group backed by Iran, to Israel. Despite her efforts to label Hamas as a terror group in both the chamber and the General Assembly, her attempts were disregarded or rejected by other members of the UN.
Hamas Incites Violence and Plans Invasion of Israel
During her tenure as the U.S. ambassador to the UN in 2018, Haley highlighted that Hamas had been inciting violence for years, even before the U.S. relocated its embassy to Jerusalem. She drew attention to media reports revealing Hamas’ plans to invade Israel if rioters managed to breach the security fence. Hamas maps and social media posts indicated the fastest routes to Israeli communities in case demonstrators succeeded. Haley also mentioned the false claims made by Hamas over loudspeakers, urging demonstrators to break through the fence by falsely stating that Israeli soldiers were retreating.
Additionally, Haley pointed out incidents where Molotov cocktails were attached to kites and flown into Israel, as well as attacks on key crossing points. She rejected calls from some UN Council members for Israel to exercise more restraint, emphasizing that no country would tolerate such activities on their borders, and Israel had already shown significant restraint compared to other nations present in the Council.
Hamas Still Not Labeled as a Terror Group by the UN
Despite Hamas’ involvement in murderous attacks, the United Nations Security Council has not designated it as a terror group, unlike ISIS and Al Qaeda. Haley introduced a resolution in June 2018 that would have officially labeled Hamas a terror group, but it received only the U.S.’s vote in favor. Russia, which supports Iran, holds veto power in the Council and has prevented the sanctioning of Hamas.
In the General Assembly, Haley successfully pushed for a vote to condemn Hamas and its rocket attacks against Israel. The amendment passed with a slim majority but failed on procedural grounds due to a rule change requiring a two-thirds majority.
Accusations of Anti-Israel Bias within the UN
Critics, including Haley, have accused the United Nations of displaying an anti-Israel bias in its General Assembly, Security Council, and various agencies. During the Trump administration, the United States withdrew from or reduced funding to several UN agencies due to their perceived bias against Israel.
Call for Respect of International Humanitarian Law
This week, the UN’s top human rights official called for both the Israel Defense Forces and Hamas to respect international humanitarian law and de-escalate tensions. The official also criticized Israel’s “full siege” of Gaza.
Israeli Ambassador Gilad Erdan expressed dissatisfaction with the way the UN handled the crisis, suggesting that the focus should be on returning the hostages, condemning Hamas, and supporting Israel’s right to self-defense.
Overall, Haley’s efforts to address the threat posed by Hamas within the UN have faced significant obstacles and opposition, highlighting the ongoing challenges in addressing the complex Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
