At a poignant United Nations ceremony marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Israeli President Isaac Herzog delivered a fiery and impassioned speech, condemning the moral collapse of international institutions that were founded in the aftermath of the Holocaust. Speaking from the same stage where calls for global unity often resonate, Herzog painted a stark picture of betrayal, hypocrisy, and the dangerous erosion of the very principles upon which these bodies were established.
Herzog began by evoking the memory of his great-uncle, Hersch Lauterpacht, a Holocaust survivor who played a pivotal role in shaping international justice. Lauterpacht, a prosecutor at the historic Nuremberg Trials and one of the architects of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), embodied a profound hope that the world would rally around the promise to prevent the horrors of genocide from ever recurring. "He acted out of deep faith," Herzog declared, "believing that institutions like the UN, ICJ, and ICC would stand as eternal guardians against the atrocities that scarred humanity so deeply during the Holocaust."
A speech for the History books !
โ miha schwartzenberg (@mihaschw) January 27, 2025
The President of Israel spoke at the UN, on the Holocaust Remembrance Day.Touching, profound, but also fearless and clear about the hypocrisy of the United Nations, more united to support the terrorism than supporting Israel.@Isaac_Herzog ๐๐ป๐ฎ๐ฑ pic.twitter.com/Lj5VcDmnNR
Yet, Herzog lamented, this hope has been shattered. With visible emotion and a biting critique, he accused these institutions of failing to uphold their mission. "Rather than standing as bastions against the spread of genocidal terror, they have become forums for moral bankruptcy," he charged. Herzog's words were sharp and direct: โThe International Criminal Court has abandoned its duty, succumbing to outrageous hypocrisy by shielding the perpetrators of atrocities while attempting to cast a grotesque symmetry between innocent victims and murderous monsters.โ
The president extended his criticism to the United Nations itself, accusing it of providing fertile ground for antisemitic ideologies to thrive unchecked. "It is unthinkable that, in the shadow of the Holocaust, genocidal doctrines are allowed to flourish without meaningful challenge," Herzog asserted. He accused terror organizations of weaponizing these institutions, distorting their founding principles, and perverting the definition of genocide solely to attack Israel and the Jewish people. "This is not just a betrayal of Israel but of every victim of injustice worldwide," Herzog said, his voice heavy with indignation.
President Isaac Herzog addresses UN at the annual Holocaust memorial, drawing a direct line between the Hamas atrocities on October 7 with the antisemitism of the Nazis โ and calling on all member states to work to bring all the hostages back pic.twitter.com/fL4S24gw6g
โ i24NEWS English (@i24NEWS_EN) January 27, 2025
The president also touched on Israel's ongoing anguish over the hostage crisis in Gaza. Herzog's tone shifted to one of deep sorrow as he addressed the international assembly. โIsrael is anguished and incomplete without the return of every single hostage held by Hamas,โ he said, referencing the horrifying conditions in which captives are reportedly held. "Although we have witnessed the heroic return of seven of our daughters from the depths of hell, 90 Israelis and foreign nationals remain in Hamas captivity, enduring subhuman conditions without even the most basic adherence to international law."
Herzog made an impassioned plea to the global community, urging immediate action. "I call on all representatives of this General Assembly, and all who consider themselves part of the civilized world, to throw the full weight of your influence to ensure the return of every single hostage. Bring them home now!" he implored. Herzog concluded this plea with a heartfelt Hebrew prayer, calling for the safe return of the captives and condemning Hamas for its blatant violations of human rights and international law.
Speech by the President of the State of Israel at the UN General Assembly special session marking International Holocaust Memorial Day https://t.co/DCTgDQxoNC
โ ืืฆืืง ืืจืฆืื Isaac Herzog (@Isaac_Herzog) January 27, 2025
This speech, both a rallying cry and a scathing indictment, resonated powerfully in the chamber. Herzog reminded the world that the lessons of the Holocaust are not abstract, historical relics but urgent, moral imperatives that demand action. "We must ask ourselves," Herzog declared in closing, "whether we are honoring the memory of the past or allowing it to be trampled underfoot by those who seek to rewrite history and undermine the very institutions meant to protect humanity."
The president's words served as a stark warning: the world cannot afford to forget its promises, and the fight against terror and antisemitism must remain a global priority.