Calls For Hostage Release In Gaza, 'Demonstrators' Disrupt Russian Foreign Minister's Speech At UN Security Council

Gaza/PHOTO via United Nations

JAKARTA - The United Nations Security Council meeting on the Middle East was halted when two protesters stood up with signs and shouted for the release of Israeli hostages detained by Palestinian militants Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The demonstration by the two women came when Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov began addressing the 15-member body after Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan's statement. Protests at the United Nations headquarters in New York are rare.

Lavrov, who chaired the meeting because Russia was the president of the council for July, replied: "I don't understand, talk more clearly. One of you can speak clearly to say what you want to say. I see you don't want to do it, very well," he said.

Diplomats at the Security Council said the women, wearing black clothes, shouted "free the hostages."

UN security asked the women to leave the room and they did so, a UN official said.

Israel's mission at the United Nations did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the protests.

The war in Gaza a Palestinian enclave of 2.3 million people started when Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people and holding about 250 hostage, including civilians and soldiers, returning to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies.

Israel then launched ground and airstrikes that have killed nearly 39,000 Palestinians, Gaza's health authorities said.