Israel’s Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, announced that United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has been declared persona non grata and banned from entering Israel. Katz stated that anyone who cannot unequivocally condemn Iran’s recent attacks on Israel does not deserve entry into the country.
Lack of Condemnation for October 7 Attacks
Katz criticized Guterres for failing to condemn the massacre and sexual violence committed by Hamas on October 7. He emphasized that Israel will continue to defend its citizens and uphold its national dignity, regardless of Guterres’ stance. In a post on X, Katz said, "Today, I have declared UN Secretary-General @antonioguterres persona non grata in Israel and banned him from entering the country. Anyone who cannot unequivocally condemn Iran's heinous attack on Israel does not deserve to step foot on Israeli soil."
Katz further accused Guterres of giving indirect support to terrorist organizations, including Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, by not taking a firm stance against them. He expressed that the Secretary-General’s failure to lead efforts in declaring these groups as terrorist organizations reflects poorly on the United Nations.
Reacting to the decision, Alex Gandler, the deputy spokesperson for Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, echoed Katz’s sentiments. He said that Guterres had not been helpful throughout Israel’s conflicts with Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas. Gandler claimed that Guterres had even sided with these groups on several occasions instead of condemning their actions.
Guterres’ Ceasefire Call Amid Escalation
In response to the ongoing conflict, Guterres previously called for an end to the escalating violence in the Middle East, urging for a ceasefire. However, his statement did not single out Iran, which has been launching ballistic missile attacks on Israel.
The situation in West Asia intensified when Iran fired nearly 200 ballistic missiles at Israeli targets. In response, the U.S. military closely coordinated with the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) to intercept the missiles. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Iran’s missile attack a "big mistake," warning that Tehran would face consequences.
Israeli Defence Forces spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, described Iran’s attack as a "severe and dangerous escalation." He assured that Israel would respond at a time and place of its choosing, in line with the government's directive.
With inputs from agencies
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