Israel’s Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, has officially declared United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres persona non grata in Israel, effectively prohibiting him from entering the country.
According to CNN, the move was announced on Wednesday, as Katz criticized Guterres for what he perceived as a failure to condemn Iran’s recent attack on Israel and for expressing support for organizations Katz regards as terrorists.
Katz’s statement was firm, “Anyone who cannot unequivocally condemn Iran’s heinous attack on Israel does not deserve to set foot on Israeli soil.”
He further accused Guterres of having an anti-Israel stance throughout his tenure at the UN and claimed that the secretary-general has provided “support to terrorists,” explicitly naming Hamas, Hezbollah, Yemen’s Houthi rebels, and Iran as examples.
The announcement follows a series of remarks from Guterres, which Israel views as biased since the conflict escalated.
Katz specifically noted the UN chief’s lack of a strong position on Hamas’ actions during the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel. Katz also expressed frustration that Guterres has not pushed for resolutions to designate Hamas as a terrorist organization.
“Guterres will be remembered as a stain on the history of the UN for generations to come,” the foreign minister asserted. “Israel will continue to defend its citizens and uphold its national dignity, with or without António Guterres.”
As of now, Guterres has not issued any public response to Israel’s decision. Prior to the attack from Iran, Guterres had called for an immediate ceasefire, expressing concerns through a statement issued by his spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric.
The statement stressed the urgent need to prevent an escalation into full-scale war, particularly in Lebanon.
This development marks a deepening of tensions between Israel and the UN, with Guterres’ recent comments further straining relations.
