Ambassador Danon to UN: Denounce Hamas unprovoked terrorist attack

Israel urged Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the UN Security Council on Thursday to condemn Hamas for "the unprovoked terrorist attack" on southern Israel in the last 24 hours.

Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon said in excerpts from a letter to the UN chief and council and distributed to news organizations by Israel's UN mission that Hamas was solely responsible for launching more than 180 rockets from Gaza that injured civilians and damaged factories and homes.

"Alarms have once again shattered the hope of the children of southern Israel for a quiet summer vacation—no country would tolerate such a situation," Danon wrote.

He said the international community "must condemn Hamas and place the responsibility for this unacceptable onslaught on the terrorist organization."

Danon added that "Israel will continue to take all necessary measures to prevent harm to civilians and to protect its sovereignty."