Palestinian Diplomat at UN Overwhelmed by Grief Over Gaza’s Young Victims

Palestinian Ambassador to the United Nations Riyad Mansour delivered an emotional address to the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday (May 28), breaking down in tears as he described the "unbearable" suffering of Palestinian children amid the ongoing war in Gaza. Mansour cited the case of Dr. Alaa al-Najjar, a Palestinian doctor who lost nine of her 10 children after they arrived at the hospital where she worked, already dead and burned. "A horror and trauma the mind cannot comprehend, the heart cannot withstand," he said. Mansour said more than 1,300 Palestinian children have been killed and about 4,000 injured since Israel resumed military operations in Gaza following the collapse of a ceasefire in March. "These are children. Children... Children!" he said. "Dozens of children are dying of starvation. The images of mothers embracing their motionless bodies, caressing their hair, talking to them, apologizing to them, is unbearable." Mansour slammed his fist on the table and broke down crying, pausing his speech. "I have grandchildren," he said. "I know what they mean to their families, and to see this situation over the Palestinians without us having hearts to do something, is beyond the ability of any normal human being to tolerate."