Israel’s Foreign Minister, Israel Katz has declared UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres as persona non grata and banned him from entering the country.
Katz accused Guterres of failing to “unequivocally” condemn Iran’s missile attack on Israel.
Israel has persistently complained over the UN’s approach throughout its war in Gaza.
“Anyone who cannot unequivocally condemn Iran’s heinous attack on Israel, as almost every country in the world has done, does not deserve to step foot on Israeli soil,” Katz wrote on X.
Katz claimed in his post that the UN chief had failed to denounce “the massacre and sexual atrocities committed by Hamas murderers” on October 7.
He added that Guterres has not led any efforts to declare them a terrorist organization.
The official accused the UN chief of giving his “backing to terrorists, rapists, and murderers from Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Iran, which he called the mothership of global terror” and branded him “a stain on the history of the UN.”
“Israel will continue to defend its citizens and uphold its national dignity, with or without Antonio Guterres.”
Israel Katz
The attack came in response to Guterres’s statement regarding Iran’s missile barrage.
Shortly after the attack, Guterres condemned the escalation of violence in the region but made no mention of Iran.
“I condemn the broadening of the Middle East conflict with escalation after escalation. This must stop. We absolutely need a ceasefire.”
Antonio Guterres
The move deepens an already wide rift between Israel and the United Nations.
Israel has long been at loggerheads with the UN and many other international organisations.
However, relations between the state and the international body have hit a new low since Israel launched its relentless war in Gaza, which followed attacks on southern Israel by Hamas on October 7.
As the war spilled over into Lebanon late last month and Israel switched its main focus to Hezbollah, Guterres said that he was “gravely alarmed” by the escalating situation and “the large number of civilian casualties.”
Following Israel’s killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah last Friday, Guterres demanded all sides “step back from the brink”, saying the region could not afford “an all-out war”.
Germany stated that Israel’s decision to bar U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres from entering the country is unhelpful.
Raging Fires Fast Becoming An Inferno
The United Nations Security Council called an emergency meeting to address the spiralling conflict.
At the meeting, Antonio Guterres told the UN Security Council that “the raging fires in the Middle East are fast becoming an inferno.”
Guterres said that UNIFIL peacekeepers remain in position despite a request by Israel for the multi-national peacekeeping force to relocate. He also stressed that the safety and security of all UN personnel must be ensured.
He added that it is absolutely essential to avoid an all-out war in Lebanon, which would have profound and devastating consequences.
Guterres also condemned Iran’s missile attack on Israel – which earlier designated the UN chief as persona non-grata – telling the Security Council the “deadly cycle of tit-for-tat violence must stop”.
“Time is running out,” he said.
Additionally, the UN head also said it was time for “hostilities” to end in Lebanon and for a ceasefire in Gaza, accompanied by a release of captives and the delivery of aid to Palestinians.
Meanwhile, the office of Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni said that she will host a call of Group of Seven leaders to discuss the escalating crisis.
According to her office, Meloni told her cabinet that there was “deep concern” about the latest developments, including Iran’s missile attack against Israel and the growing instability in Lebanon.
READ ALSO: Naana Opoku-Agyemang Urges EC to Uphold Transparency and Fairness
