Herzog Calls Out Shocking Global Hypocrisy at UN Holocaust Remembrance Day

The annual UN assembly for International Holocaust Remembrance Day convened this evening (Monday) in New York, uniting dozens of world leaders and diplomats to honor the memory of the Holocaust and address pressing global issues. Israeli President Isaac Herzog delivered a stirring address, emphasizing the ongoing security challenges Israel faces and the alarming resurgence of antisemitism.

“Our People Are Still in Captivity”

Wearing a yellow ribbon to symbolize the plight of kidnapped Israelis, Herzog began his speech by sharing the stories of the families of abducted soldiers Idan Alexander and Omar Neutra, who joined him at the assembly.

“While the people of Israel were moved to see seven of our daughters heroically released from hell – 90 Israelis and foreign nationals remain in Hamas captivity,” Herzog stated. He expressed hope for the release of six more hostages this week and urged the international community to exert every possible effort to secure the immediate release of all hostages. Herzog appealed “to anyone who considers themselves part of the civilized world” to exert their full influence to bring them home.

UN Assembly Participants | Photo: Arie Leib Abrams/Flash90A Call Against Moral Bankruptcy

Reflecting on the Holocaust’s devastating legacy as “the greatest catastrophe in the history of our people and humanity,” Herzog recognized that it was the impetus for international cooperation, leading to the creation of the United Nations and the modern State of Israel. However, he sharply criticized what he sees as the moral collapse of global institutions.

“Instead of courageously fighting against a global epidemic of murderous, Jihadist terror, the General Assembly repeatedly demonstrates moral bankruptcy,” Herzog charged. He condemned bodies like the International Criminal Court for their hypocrisy, accusing them of shielding terrorists and undermining the distinction between good and evil. His words echo the prophet’s warning: “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.” – Isaiah 5:20. The call to confront terror with moral clarity remains as relevant today as ever.

President at the Assembly | Photo by Michael Giladi/Flash90“How can institutions founded as an anti-Nazi alliance allow murderous antisemitic ideologies to thrive unchallenged, amid the greatest slaughter of Jews since World War II?” Herzog asked. He called out terrorists for using civilians as human shields while manipulating international institutions to weaken their credibility and purpose.

He concluded with a powerful affirmation: “Am Yisrael Chai” – The Nation of Israel Lives.

“I Came to Tell Their Stories”

As part of the Holocaust Remembrance Day commemoration, the UN opened a special exhibition marking 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz. Holocaust survivor Marianne Miller, invited by Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon, shared her testimony. Miller spoke about her parents and the six million Jews who were murdered during the Holocaust, saying, “To my parents and the six million I represent, who can no longer tell their stories, I am here to tell the world what happened to the Jewish people, because I was there. I want everyone to know it really happened, and it must never happen again.”

Danon thanked Miller for her participation, emphasizing the importance of her voice: “It is deeply moving to host Marianne Miller here at the UN. Her story reminds the world of what happened to the Jewish people and who was responsible for these crimes.”