Indonesia, OIC Delegates Leave UNSC Session During Israeli Envoy's Speech

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and several Organization of Islamic Cooperation or OIC delegations left the room as Israeli Ambassador Gilad Erdan began his speech at the UNSC ministerial meeting centered on aid shipments to Gaza on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024.

Ministry spokesperson Lalu M. Iqbal said that a number of OIC delegates agreed to leave the room as Erdan spoke. "Israeli envoy was not present when Indonesia and several OIC states delivered their speeches. Vice versa, the Indonesian delegation and several OIC states were also not present during his speech," he said via WhatsApp message on Wednesday evening.

TRT World on its YouTube account recorded several diplomats who left the room while Erdan delivered his speech. One of which was Minister Retno Marsudi.

The action was taken amidst global outcries against Israel's atrocities in the Gaza Strip which has killed over 25,700 Palestinians and wounded over 63,740 people. 

Concerns were also raised about the use of food as a weapon of war by Israel against Palestinians in Gaza.

On the other hand, Erdan played the victim card before the UNSC, claiming that advocating for a ceasefire would allow Hamas to persist in power.

He stressed, “This is not a war that Israel chose. But we will defend our future just as each of you would defend the future of your country.”

With the presence of the Iranian Foreign Minister at the UNSC meeting, Erdan took the opportunity to reiterate the Israeli narrative of an alleged Iranian threat.

“A spillover of the conflict is not happening magically. It was planned and instructed,” he further claimed.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Erdan alleged that the recent US interception of a boat en route to Yemen “is clear proof who is masterminding this spillover."

"Iran always stands in the shadows and pulls the strings. Every country in the region has been affected by Iran’s tentacles of terror. It will stop at nothing to extend its Shiah hegemony,” he added.

It is worth noting that Erdan's many attempts to gain the international community's attention are endless and sometimes, they have backfired, turning him into a mockery on social media platforms.

For example, he was reprimanded by the Chinese Ambassador for the UN while condemning the UN for Women and criticized for using the Star of David in a UN meeting discussing Gaza. 

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also said Israel's clear and repeated rejection of a two-state solution is unacceptable. According to him, the rejection will only prolong the conflict.

AL MAYADEEN | TRT WORLD | NABIILA

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