Foreign Minister of Israel Katz announced that they decided to declare the U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres an undesirable personality in Israel and to ban his entry into Israel. Israel has declared UN chief António Guterres banning him from entry for “failing” to condemn Iran’s missile attacks on Israel.
Why did Israel take this decision?
- Israel has banned UN secretary-general António Guterres from entering the country because, according to foreign minister Israel Katz, Guterres failed to unequivocally condemn Iran’s missile attack on Israel.
Foreign Minister Words
- Announced on social media platform X and tweeted that 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 foot on Israeli soil.”
- Katz said that anyone unable to denounce these actions does not deserve to enter Israel.
- He said the country will defend its citizens and uphold its dignity, with or without the UN chief’s support.
What happened?
- Iran launched a 180-ballistic missile attack on Israel on 1st October Night in a joint effort between the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and allied militant groups, including Hezbollah and the Houthis.
- The attack was in response to Israel’s killings of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah and Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh, among several other leaders.
Guterres’ words on attack and issue in the Middle east?
- UN chief Guterres condemned the ongoing escalation in the Middle East after Iran’s rocket barrage on Israel, but without naming Iran or Israel.
- I condemn the broadening of the Middle East conflict with escalation after escalation. This must stop. We absolutely need a ceasefire. This message was shared by him on social media.
- Earlier, Guterres also expressed concern over the conflict in Lebanon, urging Israel to respect Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Who is António Guterres?
- António Guterres became the ninth secretary-general of the United Nations on January 1, 2017.
- Born in Lisbon in 1949, he holds an engineering degree and speaks Portuguese, English, French, and Spanish. He is married and has two children and three grandchildren.
- Before becoming secretary-general, he served as the United Nations high commissioner for refugees from June 2005 to December 2015.