“Life in Gaza is ‘Russian roulette with a bullet in almost every chamber

Life in Gaza Is Like ‘Russian Roulette with a Bullet in Almost Every Chamber,’ Palestinian Envoy Tells UN

Palestinian UN envoy Majed Bamya issued a grave warning to the UN Security Council, stating that for over 2 million people in Gaza, life has become a deadly gamble—”like Russian roulette with a bullet in almost every chamber.”

Speaking during an emergency Security Council session, Bamya painted a stark picture of daily life in Gaza:

“More than 2 million Palestinians — half of them children — wake up each day not knowing if they’ll survive to see the night, and go to sleep not knowing if they’ll wake up in the morning. In Gaza, every road leads to death.”

He accused Israel of forcing Palestinians into an impossible choice between death and displacement, claiming the intention from the beginning was to drive people out of Gaza.

Highlighting the relentless toll of the violence, Bamya said the world has become numb to the suffering:

“Every day, 90 to 130 Palestinians are killed simply for being Palestinian.”

He pushed back against narratives that blame Palestinians for their own suffering:

“We’re told we chose to leave, we chose occupation, we chose oppression. Somehow, it’s always our fault.”

Calling for unhindered humanitarian access, Bamya declared that aid must flow into Gaza at scale, describing it as a non-political, non-negotiable necessity.

He also raised alarm over what he described as the erosion of international law, questioning why those advocating for justice are treated as suspects, while those committing violations remain shielded from accountability.

“What kind of world is this where defenders of international law are treated as guilty, while perpetrators go free?”

He closed with a heartfelt plea to the Council:

“Save Gaza, or we are all doomed. Save Gaza, so we can all be saved by Gaza.”