Israel’s Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, has vehemently criticized the UN Secretary-General’s decision to include the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) in a blacklist of entities accused of harming children during conflict. Katz labeled the move as “shameful” and expressed Israel’s outright rejection of it, denouncing the decision with “disgust.”
In a scathing statement, Katz accused the Secretary-General of displaying hostility towards Israel and intentionally overlooking Hamas attacks while undermining Israel’s right to self-defence. Katz highlighted the Secretary-General’s reliance on what he termed “unverified and distorted data,” including reports from organizations like the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). He alleged that these reports had inaccurately reduced casualty figures without justification and relied on data sources controlled by Hamas.
“The IDF (Israel Defence Forces) is the most moral army in the world,” Katz declared, dismissing the notion that any report could tarnish its reputation. He warned that the UN’s decision would have repercussions for Israel’s relations with the international body.
The move comes amid escalating tensions between Israel and the UN over perceived bias in reports regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel has consistently criticized what it sees as a pattern of unfair treatment by the UN.
This latest development is likely to further strain relations between Israel and the UN, raising concerns about the effectiveness of international efforts to address the conflict in the region.