ISRAEL has banned the United Nation’s (UN) secretary-general from entering the country after accusing him of “anti-Israel” bias.
In a statement on Tuesday, Israel’s foreign minister Israel Katz declared UN chief Antonio Guterres “persona non grata” and said he would be prevented from entering Israel.
It comes after Guterres (below) reiterated calls for a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon after Iran – which has publicly backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah – launched missiles into Israel on Tuesday evening.
Shortly after the attack, Guterres wrote on Twitter/X: “I condemn the broadening of the Middle East conflict with escalation after escalation.
“This must stop. We absolutely need a ceasefire.”
I condemn the broadening of the Middle East conflict with escalation after escalation. This must stop. We absolutely need a ceasefire.
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) October 1, 2024
Israel has criticised the UN chief for failing to directly mention Iran.
“Anyone who cannot unequivocally condemn Iran’s heinous attack on Israel does not deserve to step foot on Israeli soil,” Katz said on Wednesday.
“This is an anti-Israel secretary-general who lends support to terrorists, rapists, and murderers.”
The move deepens an already wide rift between Israel and the UN, which has consistently called for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Tensions in the Middle East remain high, as the Israeli military warned people on Wednesday to evacuate another 24 villages across southern Lebanon.
The villages are in a UN-declared buffer zone established after Israel and Hezbollah fought their last war in 2006.
The UN’s Security Council has called an emergency meeting for Wednesday to address the spiralling conflict.
The UN has been contacted for comment.
