UNITED NATIONS: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly criticized a “baseless” assertion by senior Israeli diplomats. They alleged that he had endorsed the October 7 attacks by Hamas during his speech to the Security Council on Tuesday.
During the Council’s discussion on the deteriorating situation in Israel and Palestine on Tuesday, the UN chief emphasized that while there could be no justification for the October 7 attacks carried out by Hamas, which led to the blockade and bombardment of Gaza, it was essential to acknowledge that these events did not occur in isolation. However, this context should not be used to justify the collective punishment of Palestinians.
After the speech by the secretary-general, Gilad Erdan, Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, tweeted, “In effect, Guterres’s speech had sought to justify the Hamas assault, which left some 1,400 dead.”
He then declared that Israel would no longer grant UN officials visas, and he asked that the head of the UN step down.
Along with accusing Guterres of encouraging Hamas attacks, Israel’s foreign minister, Eli Cohen, called off their scheduled bilateral meeting with the UN chief for Tuesday.
Later on Tuesday, the UN head met with some of the relatives of those kidnapped by Hamas militants and reaffirmed his demand that everyone breaking international law in Gaza be released immediately and without conditions.
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In a statement to correspondents on Wednesday at the stakeout outside the Security Council, Guterres said, “I was “shocked by the misrepresentation by some of my statement.”
Confirming his acknowledgment of addressing Palestinian grievances, the UN chief emphasized that during his Council speech, he had unequivocally stated, “the grievances of the Palestinian people cannot justify the appalling attacks by Hamas.”
Without explicitly mentioning Israeli diplomats, he underscored the need to clarify the record, particularly as a mark of respect to the victims and their families.
In response to questions during the regular noon briefing, UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric indicated that the secretary-general would refrain from commenting on Israel’s call for his resignation. —APP
