Israel on Wednesday declared UN Secretary-General António Guterres as persona non grata, barring him from entering the country. This drastic measure was taken after Israel’s foreign minister, Israel Katz, accused Guterres of failing to unequivocally condemn a recent missile attack by Iran on Israel.
Katz criticized Guterres for his neutral response, claiming that the UN chief’s lack of direct condemnation amounted to tacit support for “terrorists, rapists, and murderers,” a harsh rebuke aimed at the secretary-general’s perceived stance on Middle East conflicts.
The tensions escalated following Guterres’ public statement that condemned the rising violence in the region and called for a ceasefire but did not specifically mention Iran or other parties involved in the conflict. His neutral tone, especially during a period of heightened Israeli-Iranian hostilities, fueled Israeli accusations that he was biased against Israel, worsening already strained relations between the UN and Israel.
In response to Israel’s decision, Guterres and the UN reaffirmed their commitment to mediating peace efforts in the region, emphasizing the need for de-escalation and dialogue. Both parties seem to be standing firm in their positions, with Israel reinforcing its stance against perceived international bias, while the UN maintains a broader call for an end to the cycle of violence.
