Israel on Wednesday declared United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres persona non grata and banned him from entering the country for his failure to "unequivocally condemn" Iran's missile attack.
"Today I declared UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres persona non grata in Israel and banned him from entering the country. Anyone who cannot unequivocally condemn Iran's heinous attack on Israel, as almost every country in the world has done, does not deserve to set foot on Israeli soil," declared Israeli Foreign Affairs Minister Israel Katz, late Wednesday afternoon.
The Hamas attack on Israel in 2023 is nearing its anniversary, and as the tragedy is just a few days away, he tore into the United Nations chief for not taking action against terror groups.
"This is a Secretary-General who did not condemn the massacre and sexual atrocities carried out by Hamas murderers on October 7, nor did he lead efforts to have them declared a terrorist organization. A Secretary-General who favors terrorists, rapists, and murderers from Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and now Iran— the mothership of global terror—will be remembered as a stain on the history of the UN, Israeli Foreign Minister wrote on X.
He further added that Israel will keep on defending its citizens and "uphold its national dignity, with or without Antonio Guterres."
UN Secretary General had said on Tuesday, "I am extremely concerned with the serious escalation of the situation in Lebanon," while appealing for an immediate ceasefire.
All costs must be paid to avoid all-out war in Lebanon. Its sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected, " Guterres said on X.
He posted another message on X a few hours later when Iran attacked Israel with nearly 200 missiles on Tuesday night.
I condemn the broadening of the Middle East conflict, with escalation after escalation. This must stop. We absolutely need a ceasefire, " said Guterres.
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