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New York, United States of America (USA)
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. (Image: PTI)
The UN Security Council condemns Israel’s designation of its chief as persona non grata, urging countries to avoid actions undermining the UN
The United Nations Security Council expressed its support for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday after Israel’s Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, declared Guterres persona non grata. This designation came in response to Guterres’ condemnation of Iran’s missile attacks on Israel, which Israeli officials claimed did not go far enough.
In a joint statement, the 15-member council emphasized that any decision not to engage with the UN Secretary-General is “counterproductive,” particularly amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. The statement urged countries to refrain from actions that undermine Guterres’ work, US-based news outlet Bloomberg reported.
Today, I have declared UN Secretary-General @antonioguterres 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 step…
— ישראל כ”ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) October 2, 2024
Katz announced the ban on Wednesday, stating that Guterres had failed to unequivocally condemn Iran’s missile strikes during a brief statement referencing the broader conflict in the region. Under this designation, Guterres is barred from entering Gaza and the West Bank.
This latest dispute is part of a series of tensions between Israel and the UN. Israeli officials have alleged that many UN workers have ties to Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, claims that the UN has requested evidence for. Additionally, Israel has halted visa issuance for UN officials seeking to visit Gaza.
While countries like France and the UK quickly defended Guterres, this marked the first time the United States — Israel’s main ally — has publicly supported the UN chief in this context. Guterres has been vocal about the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and has condemned both Hamas’ attacks on Israel and the collective punishment of Palestinians. He has called for protecting civilians and ensuring humanitarian aid flows freely into affected areas in Gaza.
