Transcription
Good morning and happy holidays. Thank you for joining us.
Israel's ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, will deliver a brief statement ahead of this morning's emergency Security Council session on the recent Iran-backed Houthi attacks on Israel. He will take questions afterwards. If you do have a question, please remember to state your name and news outlet.
Thank you.
Good morning and happy holidays.
First, in the coming days, Israel will submit a report to the Special Rapporteur, Dr. Alice Jill Edwards, on torture. This report details the incomprehensible atrocities that the Israeli hostages have experienced and are still experiencing at the hands of Hamas.
Unfortunately, from the beginning, the UN has attempted to ignore the horrors of October 7 and the plight of the hostages. We will not allow it to continue. We will continue to remind the UN and all member states of the hostages, the torture, the psychological torment, sexual abuse, and the starvation they endure in Hamas captivity.
Less than two weeks ago, I received news that left me shaken: a ballistic missile launched by the Houthis struck the school I attended as a child in the city of Ramadan, a place where my earliest memories were formed—my own school, my own hometown. You can look at this image over here; you can see the school in Ramadan and how it looks today after a ballistic missile targeted it.
I want to ask you, what would you do if this were your school? If this was where your children learned?
Since then, the Houthis have unleashed an unrelenting bombardment of ballistic missiles on Israeli cities, targeting our population centers. Millions of Israelis are waking up every night to the sounds of sirens—almost every night.
I will ask the Security Council: what would you do if this were your children, your neighborhood, your city?
Let me make one thing absolutely clear: we have had enough. Israel will not stand by waiting for the world to act. We will defend our citizens, no matter how far the threat.
For those who remain silent when our schools and playgrounds are attacked, do not call for de-escalation when we respond. Do not equate those who launch missiles to murder with those who protect their people.
Also, we will not expect much from the UN, but the calls for restraint will not be accepted. Israel will defend its people. If 2,000 kilometers is not enough to separate our children from the terror, let me assure you it will not be enough to protect their terror from our strength.
In conclusion, I have a message for the leadership of the Houthis today: perhaps you have not been paying attention to the lessons of this past year. Let me remind you what has happened to Hamas, Hezbollah, Assad, and to all those who thought to destroy us. This is not a threat; it is a promise. You will share the same miserable fate.
Thank you.
Ambassador, SH with China Central Television.
Actually, I have a couple of questions, so please bear with me.
First, obviously, the IDF launched retaliation on several targets in Yemen following the Houthi attack. Many of them are human-designated civilian-use facilities, for example, Hodeidah ports as well as the Sana International Airport. Do you consider this act justified because they struck the school?
Well, first, we have no conflict with Yemen. I will share it with the Council later on; there are 2,500 kilometers between Yemen and Israel—no borders, no disputes. So we have no intention to attack Yemen or target it, but we will retaliate.
We know that, for example, the port of Hodeidah is being used to deliver weapons and ballistic missiles from Iran into Yemen, which means you in said is forced. I will share with the Council today the information we have about what they are doing in those ports, and unfortunately, stuff that is coming there is not being checked.
Okay, secondly, we know that Dr. Tendus of WHO was actually in Sana International Airport. Do you have any further communication or explanations with him?
You know, we have no control over who is where. We for sure have no intention to arm any UN or NGOs. On the contrary, when we can, we coordinate. You know, when we acted in Lebanon and Gaza, but the people who are now in areas where the Houthis are, where they are holding ballistic missiles, they should be careful because we will not sit idly by when they attack.
You know, this is my school; this is my hometown. We will not just wait for the next missile to come.
So one last question: since you just mentioned the hostages, I remember like a week ago you were here and said hopefully the ceasefire and releasing a hostage deal could be struck before Hanukkah, before Christmas, but today we didn't see that. What is the reason? Who is perpetrating it?
Unfortunately, we are dealing with a terrorist organization, and every time they come with new demands. We are willing to pay prices to release more hostages and bring them back home. We are aware of the conditions they are being held in, but unfortunately, every time they come with new demands. So the blame is on Hamas.
You cannot ask them; they're not here. But you can ask the negotiators. You may not believe me, but if you ask the Egyptians, the Qataris, the Americans, they will tell you who is to be blamed.
So, Ambassador Mariam Ramadi with Iran International News Channel.
Do you think the Houthi attacks on Israel increase the risk of a direct war with the Islamic Republic of Iran and Israel? Because, as you said, the proxies are now in the region, as seen in Syria, Lebanon, and what is happening in the Gaza Strip. Do you think what is happening in Yemen right now could result in a direct war between Iran and Israel?
We are a peaceful nation, and I've been speaking directly to the Iranian people. We know that the Iranian people are also a peaceful nation, but the regime spends billions of dollars on proxies and sends millions of weapons to the Houthis, while the people in Iran don't have electricity and don't have heat in the winter.
So we hope it will continue to be peaceful, but at the same time, we are preparing for all scenarios. We will not accept the situation where proxies are attacking us.
I would also say to the Iranian leadership: we have shown our capabilities. We have the ability to strike every target in the Middle East, including Iran.
Thank you very much.