Tension Escalates between Israel and UN Over Secretary-General's Comment

Israeli officials have expressed their outrage over the remarks made by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres regarding the deadly Hamas attack on southern Israel. Guterres’ statement that the attack “did not happen in a vacuum” sparked strong reactions from Israeli leaders, who saw this as a justification for terrorism.

Israeli Officials Demand Resignation

Foreign Minister Eli Cohen cancelled a scheduled meeting with Guterres, stating on a social media platform that a balanced approach was out of question and Hamas needs to be eradicated. Israel’s envoy to the UN, Gilad Erdan, called for Guterres’ resignation and suggested a reevaluation of Israel’s relations with the UN. He even mentioned the refusal to grant visas to UN representatives, citing the recent denial of a visa to Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths.

Guterres’ Address to the Security Council

Guterres addressed a special Security Council meeting on the Israel-Hamas war, which was instigated by Hamas’ attack on October 7, resulting in the death of at least 1,400 Israelis and more than 220 hostages. Israeli airstrikes in response have obliterated large areas of the Gaza enclave, leading to at least 6,500 Palestinian deaths, including more than 2,700 children, as reported by the Hamas-run Health Ministry.

The UN chief condemned the horrifying attack and stated that nothing could justify the deliberate killing and injuring of civilians or the launching of rockets against civilian targets. However, his contextualisation of the attack by saying it did not happen in a vacuum has stirred up controversy in Israel.

Historical Strained Relations

Israel’s relation with the UN has been historically strained, with accusations of bias from the former. This latest episode further escalates the tension between the two entities. The fallout from Guterres’ comments and Israel’s reactions may have significant implications for their future interactions and the overall geopolitical landscape of the region.