Libya’s ambassador to the United Nations, Taher El-Sonni, came under sharp criticism from the United States, the United Kingdom, and France during a UN Security Council session on the Palestinian Cause, following his description of the situation in Gaza as a “holocaust” and the “Holocaust of the 21st century”—a comparison the three Western powers deemed inaccurate and antisemitic.
US representative Dorothy Shea stressed that comparing any event to the Nazi Holocaust, which claimed the lives of six million Jews, diminishes its gravity and constitutes antisemitism. She also condemned what she called “false accusations” against Israel.
UK's envoy expressed deep concern, emphasizing the specificity of the Nazi Holocaust and stating that it should not be equated with any other event. She urged instead a focus on bridging the gap between Palestine and Israel.
France’s representative, who presided over the session, reaffirmed his country’s recognition of only one Holocaust committed by the Nazis, stressing that its memory must be respected and not used for comparison—even while acknowledging the suffering of Gaza’s civilians.
El-Sonni made the remarks during the extended session that began Tuesday and continued into Wednesday, chaired by France.
