A United Nations hearing on the plight of children affected by the Gaza conflict erupted into a heated confrontation on Friday, with Israel's ambassador accusing the UN leadership of unfairly targeting the country.
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The tense exchange unfolded at UN headquarters in New York during an event marking the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict. Israeli ambassador Danny Danon used the forum to attack recent UN reports that have placed Israel on global blacklists over alleged violations involving children and conflict-related sexual violence.
Addressing the gathering, Danon called for the resignation of Pramila Patten, the UN secretary-general's special representative on sexual violence in conflict, whose office last month added Israel to a blacklist for alleged conflict-related sexual violence violations for the first time.
"You caved to the secretary-general's obsession with targeting Israel," Danon said, directing his criticism at UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
