Israel has declared United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres “persona non grata,” accusing him of failing to unequivocally condemn Iran’s missile attack on Israel.
In a statement on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said, “Anyone who cannot unequivocally condemn Iran’s heinous attack on Israel does not deserve to step foot on Israeli soil.”
Katz went on to criticize Guterres harshly, calling him “an anti-Israel Secretary-General who lends support to terrorists, rapists, and murderers.” He further accused Guterres of supporting groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Huthis, alongside Iran, which he referred to as “the mothership of global terror.”
The move came after Guterres condemned the increasing violence in the region following the Iranian missile strike but did not specifically denounce Iran. The UN chief had remarked on the “broadening conflict in the Middle East,” urging an immediate ceasefire and stating, “This must stop. We absolutely need a ceasefire.”
Israel’s relations with the United Nations have become increasingly strained, especially after the October 7 attacks by Hamas. Guterres has consistently called for a ceasefire in both Gaza and Lebanon, further drawing Israel’s ire.
