UK Ambassador Barbara Woodward said that her country abstained from the resolution
as the text needed to be clearer on Israel’s inherent right to self-defence,
and because it ignored the fact that extremist group Hamas, which controls Gaza, is using Palestinian civilians as human shields.
“They [Hamas] have embedded themselves in civilian communities and made the Palestinian people their victims too,” she said.
She reiterated the UK’s support for Israel’s right to
defend itself against Hamas,
rescue hostages
and strengthen its security in the long term,
while calling on Israel “to take all *feasible* precautions” to avoid harming Palestinian civilians.
