A sharp diplomatic clash unfolded at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) as Israel invoked the memory of Osama bin Laden’s killing in Pakistan to accuse Islamabad of hypocrisy and “double standards” in addressing global terrorism.
The exchange came during a tense meeting on Israel’s strike targeting Hamas leaders in Doha, Qatar, drawing strong words from both Israeli and Pakistani envoys.
What did Israel say about Pakistan?
Israel’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Danny Danon, directly confronted Pakistan’s UN envoy, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, reminding the Council that the Al-Qaeda chief had been sheltered and eventually killed on Pakistani soil in 2011.
“When bin Laden was eliminated in Pakistan, the question was not ‘why target a terrorist on foreign soil?’ The question was, ‘Why was a terrorist given shelter at all?'” Danon said, underscoring that there can be no immunity for Hamas just as there was none for bin Laden.
The remarks coincided with the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, orchestrated by bin Laden, which killed nearly 3,000 people in New York City. Drawing parallels, Danon said: “That tragic day, like October 7 for Israel, was a day of fire and blood.”
He reminded the UNSC that, after 9/11, the Council had unanimously declared that no nation may harbour or fund terrorists, and governments violating that principle were in breach of binding obligations.
How did Pakistan respond to Israel?
In response, Pakistan’s Ambassador Ahmad denounced Israel’s actions in Gaza and beyond, calling them “illegal, unprovoked aggression” that violated international law and undermined regional peace.
He accused Israel of a consistent pattern of cross-border strikes in Syria, Lebanon, Iran, and Yemen, as well as of brutality in Gaza. “It is unacceptable, indeed ludicrous, for an aggressor and serial violator of the UN Charter to point fingers at others,” Ahmad said.
What is the global impact of the Israel-Pakistan exchange?
The verbal sparring highlighted a broader debate within the UN over whether counter-terrorism principles are being applied consistently or selectively. Danon argued that Pakistan’s criticism of Israel amounted to ignoring its own history, particularly the fact that US forces found and killed bin Laden in Abbottabad, Pakistan, without international condemnation.
“When other countries in this Council attack terrorists, no one condemns them. But when Israel does, the standards change. That is the issue of double standards,” Danon insisted.
The exchange not only underscored the deep divisions at the UN over Israel’s ongoing military actions but also exposed the lingering shadow of bin Laden’s presence in Pakistan. More than a decade after his death, his name remains a powerful reminder of how accusations of harbouring terrorists can haunt states on the global stage.