Israel has officially declared UN Secretary-General António Guterres a “persona non grata,” prohibiting him from entering the country. This announcement was made by Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz on social media, who criticized Guterres for failing to unequivocally condemn the recent attacks by Hamas and Iran.
Katz stated, “Anyone who cannot unequivocally condemn Iran’s heinous attack on Israel… does not deserve to step foot on Israeli soil.” He further accused Guterres of providing support to terrorist organizations, including Hamas and Hezbollah, describing him as a “stain on the history of the UN.”
In response to the events of October 7, Guterres condemned the acts of terror by Hamas, emphasizing that “nothing can justify the deliberate killing, injuring, and kidnapping of civilians.” However, his comments regarding the broader context of the Palestinian situation, including references to years of occupation and violence, angered Israeli officials.
Guterres argued that while the grievances of the Palestinian people do not justify the attacks by Hamas, the ongoing conflict and Israeli settlements contribute to the violence. Last month, a non-binding UN motion overwhelmingly supported calls for Israel to end its long-standing occupation of the Palestinian West Bank.