Persona non grata': Israel bars UN secretary general Guterres from entering country
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz announced on his verified Twitter account that United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has been declared *persona non grata* in Israel.
Katz also confirmed that Guterres is banned from entering the country, citing the Secretary-General’s failure to unequivocally condemn recent Iranian attacks on Israel and his lack of response to the atrocities committed by Hamas on October 7.
Katz's statement emphasized that nearly every nation had condemned Iran's aggression toward Israel, but Guterres had remained silent on the issue. "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 foot on Israeli soil," Katz tweeted. His message criticized Guterres for his failure to denounce the brutal Hamas attacks and his perceived leniency toward terrorist organizations.
The Hamas attack, which occurred on October 7, left hundreds dead, and there have been widespread reports of mass killings and sexual violence. Despite international outrage, Katz expressed frustration that Guterres had not taken a firm stance against the group or led efforts to have them officially recognized as a terrorist organization.
In his tweet, Katz described Guterres as backing not just Hamas, but also other organizations Israel considers terrorist groups, including Hezbollah and the Houthis. He further accused the Secretary-General of supporting Iran, which Katz referred to as "the mothership of global terror."
Katz's declaration reflects the escalating tensions between Israel and the UN leadership. “Israel will continue to defend its citizens and uphold its national dignity, with or without António Guterres,” Katz concluded.
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