Israel’s foreign minister accused Antonio Guterres of ‘backing terrorists, rapists, and murderers’ and branded him ‘a stain on the history of the UN’.
BREAKING: Israel’s Foreign Minister has declared UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as “persona non grata,” effectively barring him from entering the country. On Wednesday, Minister Israel Katz accused Guterres of not “unequivocally” condemning Iran’s missile attack on Israel. This criticism follows Israel’s long-standing complaints about the UN’s stance during its ongoing conflict in Gaza. Katz posted on X, stating, “Anyone who cannot unequivocally condemn Iran’s heinous attack on Israel, as nearly every country has, does not deserve to set foot on Israeli soil.”
Katz further accused Guterres of supporting “terrorists, rapists, and murderers,” calling him “a stain on the history of the UN.” While Guterres had condemned the escalating violence in the region, he did not specifically mention Iran. On Tuesday evening, Guterres wrote: “I condemn the broadening of the Middle East conflict with escalation after escalation. This must stop. We absolutely need a ceasefire.”
Addressing the situation, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller remarked that such actions would not help Israel improve its global standing. He emphasized that the UN plays a crucial role in Gaza and the region, contributing to security and stability when it operates effectively.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric labeled the Israeli government’s announcement as a political move and another attack on UN staff. He added that the UN does not recognize the concept of persona non grata for its personnel. During an emergency UN Security Council session, Guterres reiterated his condemnation of the Iranian missile attack on Israel, as he had done in a previous incident in April.
