Israel bans UN Secretary-General from entering country

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz announced a ban on United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres from entering Israel.

The announcement was made via Katz’s account on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The decision follows what Katz described as Guterres’ failure to condemn Iran’s missile attack on Israel.

The attack was reportedly in retaliation for the deaths of key figures, including Hassan Nasrallah, leader of Hezbollah; Ismail Haniyeh, political leader of Hamas; and Abbas Nilforoushan, a senior commander in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Katz declared: “Today, I have decided to declare UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres persona non grata in Israel and to ban his entry. Anyone who cannot unequivocally condemn Iran’s criminal attack on Israel, as nearly every other country has, does not deserve to step foot on Israeli soil.”

He further criticized Guterres for failing to denounce the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, which included massacres and sexual violence, and for not advancing decisions to officially label Hamas a terrorist organization.

“A Secretary-General who offers support to the terrorists, rapists, and murderers of Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and now the global terrorist sponsor, Iran, will be remembered as a stain on the history of the United Nations,” Katz added.

“Israel will continue to defend its citizens and uphold its national honor—with or without Antonio Guterres.”

Full statement: “I decided today to declare UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres an undesirable personality in Israel and to ban his entry into Israel.

“Anyone who is unable to unequivocally condemn Iran’s criminal attack on Israel, as almost all the countries of the world have done, does not deserve to set foot on Israel’s soil.

“This is a Secretary General who has not yet denounced the massacre and sexual crimes committed by the Hamas killers on October 7, and has not led to decisions to declare them a terrorist organization.

“A secretary-general who gives support to the terrorists, rapists and murderers of Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis and now to the mother ship of global terrorism, Iran – will be remembered as a blot on the history of the United Nations.

“Israel will continue to protect its citizens and maintain its status and national honor with or without Antonio Guterres”.