Israel’s United Nations ambassador displayed a yellow star on his chest as he addressed the Security Council, pledging to wear the badge until members of the body condemn Hamas’s “atrocities”.

His wearing of the badge, which has come to symbolise the oppression of Jews since its imposition in Nazi-occupied Europe, was swiftly criticised by a spokesman for Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust history museum, who urged him to wear the Israeli flag instead.

On Monday, Gilad Erdan, the Israeli envoy to the UN, denounced the Security Council for “staying silent” over the unprecedented Oct 7 attacks by Hamas terrorists.

“Some of you have learned nothing in the past 80 years,” he said. “Some of you have forgotten why this body was established.”

The deeply divided 15-member council has not adopted a single resolution on the more than three-week-long conflict between Israel and Hamas.

‘Staying silent in the face of evil’

“So, I will remind you. From this day on, each time you look at me you will remember what staying silent in the face of evil means,” the ambassador said.

“Just like my grandparents, and the grandparents of millions of Jews, from now on my team and I will wear yellow stars,” he said, standing up to affix one on the breast of his suit inscribed with the words: “Never Again”.

Mr Erdan said he would wear it “as a symbol of pride”.

“We will wear this star until you wake up and condemn the atrocities of Hamas.”