Exchange of letters between Permanent Representative of Israel to the UN and the USG for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator regarding humanitarian access to Gaza and the language used in Security Council briefings – Letter from Israel (S/2025/313)

19 May 2025

Letter dated 19 May 2025 from the Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council

Please find attached a response letter to Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator (see annex I), as well as Under-Secretary-General Fletcher’s letter to me dated 16 May 2025 (see annex II).

I should be grateful if you would have the present letter and its annexes distributed as a document of the Security Council.

(Signed) Danny Danon

Ambassador

Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations

Annex I to the letter dated 19 May 2025 from the Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council

I wish to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated 16 May. As previously mentioned, the State of Israel is closely monitoring the humanitarian situation in Gaza. That is why, after careful deliberation, the Israeli Security Cabinet has approved the resumption of aid entry into Gaza facilitated by specific agencies with strict oversight to prevent Hamas’ continued looting of humanitarian resources.

However, your letter does not address the central concern I raised.

My letter was about the words you chose to use in your remarks before the Security Council last week – words that carry immense weight. As we stated clearly: words matter. The misuse of such language, especially by a senior United Nations official in a formal setting, undermines both your personal credibility and the work of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

To speak of “genocide” without a mandate or a legal basis was an act of profound irresponsibility. You distorted this term’s meaning simply to weaponize it against the State of Israel. In doing so, you degraded the force and weight of the term itself and played into the hands of those who wish to see the truth distorted and politicized.

We therefore expect a public retraction and an apology for your remarks.

(Signed) Danny Danon

Ambassador

Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations

Annex II to the letter dated 19 May 2025 from the Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council

Thank you for your letter today, which I read carefully.

While I was not in post on 7 October 2023, I watched the atrocities carried out by Hamas with horror. I have consistently, including in my briefing to the Security Council on Tuesday, called for Hamas to release the hostages unconditionally. I regularly recount my moving visit to Nir Oz kibbutz, and I will never forget the stories I heard and the courage of the survivors I met.

I hope that your colleague has reported to you my briefing to the Economic and Social Council yesterday, including my repeated determination that no United Nations aid should ever be diverted, whether by Hamas or any other party. It must reach the civilians who – as I briefed the Council – need it so urgently.

We have 9,000 trucks at the Gaza crossings, half of them carrying life-saving food. It has all been cleared by Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT). We have solid plans to distribute to civilians, with verification measures to ensure that aid does not get stolen by Hamas. We showed during the ceasefire that we can deliver at scale. The attached briefing note captures the processes we have in place.* As I implored at the Council, please let us do our work.

Thank you for your recognition that the United Nations remain “hallowed halls”. I can reassure you that I fervently believe in the Charter of the United Nations, and in our obligation to act with humanity, independence, impartiality and neutrality. And of course, honesty about what we observe and are mandated to report.

I remain ready and willing to engage with you and your colleagues to save lives and deliver humanitarian support.

(Signed) Tom Fletcher

Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator