'I Have Grandchildren Too': Palestinian Envoy Breaks Down In Tears At UN Over Gaza
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Addressing the UN Security Council, Mansour struggled to hold back his emotions and broke down mid-speech
Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations, Riyad Mansour, on Wednesday broke down in tears as he addressed the UN Security Council, speaking about the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Visibly distressed, Mansour struggled to contain his emotions mid-speech, as he described the suffering of Palestinian families.
'Dozens of children are dying of starvation. The images of mothers embracing their motionless bodies, caressing their hair, talking to them, apologising to them, is unbearable. How could anyone tolerate this sorrow?" he said in a trembling voice.
'I have grandchildren. I know what they mean to their families.'Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations Riyad Mansour breaks down in tears as he addresses the UN Security Council on the situation in Gaza. https://t.co/FWLzrHNiwy
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'I have grandchildren. I know what they mean to their families. To witness the suffering of Palestinians, while the world remains unmoved, is beyond what any normal human being can endure," he added, thumping the desk in front of him, overcome with emotion.
'Flames and hunger are devouring Palestinian children. This is why we are so outraged — as Palestinians everywhere, the 14 million of us, in the occupied territories, in the diaspora, in the refugee camps…" he said.
'We love our children. We love our people. We don't want to see them going through this tragedy and these savage attacks," the Palestinian envoy stated.
Israel has stepped up its military offensive in Gaza, triggered by a Hamas-led attack on 7 October 2023 — the deadliest day for Israel since its founding in 1948. That attack killed around 1,200 people and saw 251 others taken hostage into Gaza.
In response, Israel launched a prolonged and devastating military campaign, which has so far killed more than 54,000 Palestinians — more than in any previous conflict between the two sides, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. The ministry reports that women and children make up the majority of those killed, though it does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its figures.
Despite growing international calls for a ceasefire, efforts by mediators have yet to yield a breakthrough.
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First Published:
May 28, 2025, 23:58 IST
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