JERUSALEM, Israel — Israel has officially declared United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres persona non grata, barring him from entering the country.
The decision, announced by Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, came in response to what Israeli officials see as Guterres’ failure to condemn Iran’s missile attacks on Israel unequivocally.
The move marks a significant escalation in Israel’s strained relations with the international body.
Katz accused Guterres of turning a blind eye to the attack, writing on X (formerly Twitter): “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.”
He further lambasted the UN chief for allegedly supporting terrorists, branding him “a stain on the history of the UN.”
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
Guterres’ Condemnation of Escalation
Guterres, in his initial statement following Iran’s missile barrage, condemned the rising violence in the region but made no specific mention of Iran, instead calling for a ceasefire.
“I condemn the broadening of the Middle East conflict with escalation after escalation. This must stop. We absolutely need a ceasefire,” he wrote on Tuesday evening.
RELATED: Israeli Troops Enter Lebanon as Ground Offensive Targets Hezbollah
At a United Nations Security Council session on Wednesday, Guterres responded to the criticism, saying, “As I did in relation to the Iranian attack in April – and as should have been obvious yesterday in the context of the condemnation I expressed – I again strongly condemn yesterday’s massive missile attack by Iran on Israel.”
International Reactions
The Israeli decision has drawn mixed reactions internationally.
The U.S. State Department voiced concerns, with spokesperson Matthew Miller stating, “Steps like these are not productive to (Israel) improving its standing in the world.”
He emphasised the crucial role the UN plays in the region, especially in providing humanitarian assistance in conflict zones like Gaza.
UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric called Israel’s decision political, dismissing the concept of persona non grata as it applies to UN personnel.
“This is just one more attack on UN staff that we’ve seen from the government of Israel,” Dujarric said.
Long-Standing Tensions with the UN
Israel’s tense relationship with the United Nations has been well-documented, particularly in the context of its yearlong conflict in Gaza and its broader military operations in the region.
Katz claimed that Guterres had failed to condemn the October 7 Hamas attacks on southern Israel adequately and accused him of supporting groups like Hezbollah and Iran.
The Israeli-Lebanon border has become another flashpoint as Israel shifts its focus to fighting Hezbollah after the killing of its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, last week.
Guterres expressed alarm at the growing civilian casualties in the region, urging restraint and warning of the potential for an all-out war.
As the conflict in the Middle East escalates, Israel’s decision to bar Guterres is seen as another sign of its growing frustration with international diplomatic efforts.
