In a scathing statement released on September 9, 2025, the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas sharply criticized the United Nations for its perceived inaction and failure to address what the group describes as an ongoing "genocide" perpetrated by Israel against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip. The statement, issued by Hamas’s Political Bureau, underscored the group’s frustration with the international community’s inability or unwillingness to intervene decisively to halt the escalating violence and humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in the besieged enclave. This condemnation comes in the context of intensified Israeli military operations, which have resulted in significant Palestinian casualties, widespread destruction, and a deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Background: The Gaza Conflict and Hamas’s Position
The Gaza Strip, a densely populated coastal enclave home to over two million Palestinians, has been at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for decades. Since Hamas, a Palestinian Islamic resistance movement, took control of Gaza in 2007 following a political split with the Palestinian Authority, the territory has faced a crippling Israeli blockade, periodic military offensives, and severe restrictions on movement, trade, and access to essential resources. Hamas, founded in 1987 during the First Intifada, has positioned itself as a defender of Palestinian rights, advocating armed resistance against Israeli occupation while also engaging in governance and social service provision in Gaza.
The latest escalation, which Hamas refers to as a "genocide," stems from a series of Israeli military operations launched in response to rocket attacks and other forms of resistance from Palestinian factions in Gaza. These operations, characterized by airstrikes, ground incursions, and targeted killings, have drawn international attention due to the disproportionate impact on civilians. According to Palestinian health authorities, thousands of Palestinians, including women and children, have been killed or injured since the onset of the latest conflict cycle. Entire neighborhoods have been reduced to rubble, hospitals overwhelmed, and critical infrastructure, including water and electricity systems, severely damaged.
Hamas’s statement reflects a broader sentiment among Palestinians that the international community, particularly the United Nations, has failed to uphold its mandate to protect vulnerable populations and enforce international law. The group accuses the UN of adopting a passive stance, issuing statements of concern without taking concrete measures to hold Israel accountable for alleged war crimes and violations of human rights.
Hamas’s Critique of the United Nations
In its statement, Hamas lambasted the UN for what it described as a “shameful silence” in the face of Israel’s actions. The group argued that the UN’s inaction has emboldened Israel to continue its military campaign with impunity, exacerbating the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza. “The United Nations, which claims to uphold justice and human rights, has become a bystander to the systematic extermination of our people,” the statement read. “Its failure to act decisively against the Zionist regime’s atrocities is a betrayal of its own principles and a complicity in the genocide unfolding in Gaza.”
Hamas specifically criticized the UN Security Council, where resolutions aimed at addressing the Gaza crisis have repeatedly been vetoed or watered down, often due to the influence of the United States, a key ally of Israel. The group pointed to the UN’s inability to enforce resolutions calling for an end to Israeli settlement expansion, the lifting of the Gaza blockade, and the protection of Palestinian civilians as evidence of its ineffectiveness. “The Security Council has become a tool of imperialist powers, shielding the Zionist entity while our people are slaughtered,” Hamas declared.
The statement also called out the UN General Assembly and various UN agencies, such as the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which provides humanitarian aid to Palestinians. While acknowledging UNRWA’s efforts to deliver food, medical supplies, and shelter to displaced Gazans, Hamas argued that these measures are insufficient to address the scale of the crisis. “Piecemeal aid cannot substitute for justice,” the statement asserted. “The UN must move beyond symbolic gestures and take bold action to stop the aggression and hold the perpetrators accountable.”
The Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza
The humanitarian situation in Gaza has reached catastrophic levels, with the ongoing Israeli military campaign exacerbating an already dire reality. The blockade, imposed by Israel and supported by Egypt since 2007, has restricted the flow of goods, fuel, and medical supplies, leaving Gaza’s economy in tatters and its population dependent on external aid. The destruction of homes, schools, and hospitals has displaced tens of thousands of families, many of whom are now living in makeshift shelters or overcrowded UN-run facilities.
According to reports from international aid organizations, Gaza’s healthcare system is on the brink of collapse. Hospitals, already under-resourced due to the blockade, are struggling to cope with the influx of casualties. Medical supplies, including anesthetics and surgical equipment, are in critically short supply, and power outages have forced doctors to perform surgeries under flashlight. The lack of clean water and sanitation facilities has also raised fears of disease outbreaks, particularly among children and the elderly.
The psychological toll on Gaza’s population is equally devastating. Children, who make up nearly half of the enclave’s population, have grown up knowing only war, displacement, and deprivation. Mental health services, already limited, are unable to meet the needs of a traumatized population. The constant threat of airstrikes, coupled with the loss of loved ones and homes, has left many Gazans in a state of despair.
Hamas’s statement highlighted these conditions, accusing Israel of deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure to “break the will of the Palestinian people.” The group called on the international community to recognize the crisis as a form of collective punishment, a practice prohibited under international humanitarian law. “The Zionist regime’s actions are not merely military operations; they are a calculated campaign to destroy our society and erase our existence,” the statement read.
Historical Context: The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
To fully understand Hamas’s accusations and the broader context of the Gaza crisis, it is essential to examine the historical roots of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The conflict traces its origins to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when Zionist immigration to Palestine, then under Ottoman and later British control, began to reshape the region’s demographic and political landscape. The establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, which Palestinians refer to as the Nakba (catastrophe), resulted in the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians and set the stage for decades of struggle.
The occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza Strip following the 1967 Six-Day War further entrenched Israel’s control over Palestinian territories. While Israel withdrew its settlers and military from Gaza in 2005, it retained control over the enclave’s borders, airspace, and territorial waters, effectively maintaining an occupation through the blockade. Hamas, which emerged as a resistance movement during the First Intifada (1987–1993), gained popularity among Palestinians for its commitment to armed struggle and its rejection of negotiations that it viewed as legitimizing Israeli occupation.
Over the years, Gaza has been the site of multiple Israeli military operations, including Operation Cast Lead (2008–2009), Operation Pillar of Defense (2012), and Operation Protective Edge (2014). Each of these campaigns resulted in significant Palestinian casualties and widespread destruction, drawing condemnation from human rights organizations and parts of the international community. However, Israel has consistently defended its actions as necessary to protect its security and counter threats from Hamas and other Palestinian factions.
International Responses and the Role of the UN
The United Nations has long been a focal point for debates over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The UN General Assembly has passed numerous resolutions affirming the rights of Palestinians, including the right to self-determination and the right of return for refugees displaced during the Nakba. However, these resolutions are non-binding and have had little impact on the ground. The UN Security Council, which has the authority to impose sanctions or authorize military intervention, has been hamstrung by divisions among its permanent members, particularly the United States, which has used its veto power to block resolutions critical of Israel.
UN agencies such as UNRWA have played a critical role in providing humanitarian assistance to Palestinians, particularly in Gaza, where the agency supports over 1.4 million registered refugees. UNRWA operates schools, clinics, and food distribution centers, but its work has been hampered by funding shortages and political pressures. In recent years, the United States, under the Trump administration, slashed funding to UNRWA, accusing the agency of perpetuating the refugee crisis. While some of this funding was later restored, UNRWA continues to face financial challenges that limit its ability to address Gaza’s needs.
Hamas’s criticism of the UN reflects a broader frustration with the international system’s inability to enforce accountability. The group has called for the UN to impose sanctions on Israel, refer its leaders to the International Criminal Court (ICC), and deploy peacekeeping forces to protect Palestinian civilians. However, these demands face significant obstacles, including opposition from Western powers and the complexities of international diplomacy.
The Broader Geopolitical Context
The Gaza crisis cannot be viewed in isolation from the broader geopolitical dynamics of the Middle East. Israel’s actions in Gaza are shaped by its strategic interests, including its desire to maintain military dominance and counter threats from Iran, which supports Hamas and other regional resistance movements. The United States, as Israel’s primary ally, provides billions of dollars in military aid annually, reinforcing Israel’s ability to sustain its operations in Gaza and beyond.
Meanwhile, the Arab world’s response to the Gaza crisis has been mixed. While countries like Qatar and Turkey have provided financial and diplomatic support to Hamas and the Palestinian cause, others, such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, have pursued normalization agreements with Israel under the Abraham Accords, signed in 2020. These agreements, which prioritize economic and security cooperation over the Palestinian issue, have been criticized by Hamas as a betrayal of the Palestinian struggle.
The role of international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and grassroots movements has also been significant. Groups like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have documented alleged war crimes in Gaza, calling for investigations and accountability. The Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, inspired by the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa, has gained traction globally, urging governments, corporations, and individuals to pressure Israel economically and politically.
Hamas’s Call to Action
In its statement, Hamas called on the Palestinian people to remain steadfast in their resistance and urged the international community to take immediate action to halt Israel’s aggression. The group emphasized the importance of unity among Palestinian factions, calling for reconciliation between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority to strengthen the Palestinian position. It also appealed to Arab and Muslim nations to exert diplomatic and economic pressure on Israel and its allies.
Hamas reiterated its commitment to armed resistance, arguing that it is the only viable means of confronting Israeli occupation. “Our people have no choice but to resist with all available means,” the statement declared. “The Zionist regime understands only the language of force, and we will continue to defend our land and our rights until liberation is achieved.”
The group also called for global solidarity with the Palestinian cause, urging activists and supporters worldwide to organize protests, raise awareness, and advocate for Palestinian rights. “The struggle for Palestine is a struggle for justice and humanity,” Hamas stated. “We call on all free people of the world to stand with us against oppression and genocide.”
Challenges and Prospects for Resolution
The Gaza crisis and Hamas’s accusations against the UN highlight the immense challenges facing efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The entrenched positions of both sides, coupled with the international community’s inability to forge a consensus, have perpetuated a cycle of violence and suffering. While Hamas’s call for UN action resonates with many Palestinians, the practical obstacles to implementing such measures are formidable.
The UN’s role in the conflict is further complicated by its dual mandate to uphold human rights and maintain international peace and security. Balancing these objectives requires navigating the competing interests of powerful states, many of which have their own agendas in the Middle East. For example, the United States’ unwavering support for Israel contrasts with the positions of countries like Russia and China, which have expressed sympathy for the Palestinian cause but lack the influence to shift the status quo.
Efforts to achieve a lasting resolution to the conflict have been stymied by disagreements over key issues, including the status of Jerusalem, the right of return for Palestinian refugees, and the borders of a future Palestinian state. The two-state solution, long championed by the international community, has lost credibility among many Palestinians, who view it as unfeasible given the expansion of Israeli settlements and the fragmentation of Palestinian territory.
Hamas’s vision of a liberated Palestine, encompassing all of historic Palestine from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, is equally contentious, as it implies the dissolution of the State of Israel. This position has fueled accusations that Hamas seeks the destruction of Israel, a charge the group denies, framing its struggle as one for liberation rather than annihilation.
The Path Forward
As the crisis in Gaza continues to unfold, the international community faces a moral and political imperative to address the root causes of the conflict. For the United Nations, this means grappling with its own limitations and finding ways to bridge the gap between rhetoric and action. While humanitarian aid is critical, it cannot substitute for a comprehensive strategy to address the systemic issues of occupation, blockade, and dispossession.
Hamas’s statement, while polarizing, underscores the urgency of the situation and the need for a paradigm shift in how the international community approaches the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Whether through diplomatic pressure, legal accountability, or grassroots mobilization, the path to justice for Palestinians requires a collective effort that transcends the inertia of the status quo.
For the people of Gaza, the stakes could not be higher. Each day brings new tragedies, as families mourn the loss of loved ones and struggle to survive in unimaginable conditions. Hamas’s call for action is a reminder that the Palestinian struggle is not just a regional issue but a global one, demanding the attention and solidarity of all who value justice and human dignity.
