In a sharp escalation of tensions, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz has launched a scathing attack on UN Secretary-General António Guterres, accusing him of promoting an ‘anti-Israel and anti-Jewish agenda.’ The accusation stems from Guterres’ failure to welcome the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who was eliminated by Israeli forces in a surprise firefight in Gaza.
Katz, in a post on X, condemned Guterres’ silence on Sinwar’s death, stating that ‘Guterres did not welcome the elimination of arch-terrorist Yahya Sinwar, just as he refused to declare Hamas a terrorist organization after the October 7th massacre.’ He further labeled Guterres as ‘leading an extreme anti-Israel and anti-Jewish agenda.’
The Israeli minister’s attack comes just a day after the Israeli military announced Sinwar’s death, marking a significant blow to the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which has been engaged in a protracted conflict with Israeli forces in Gaza for over a year.
This latest accusation is not an isolated incident. Earlier this month, Israel had declared Guterres ‘persona non grata’ and barred him from entering the country after Katz accused him of failing to ‘unequivocally’ condemn Iran’s missile attack on Israel.
Israel has consistently criticized the UN’s approach towards the ongoing conflict in Gaza, accusing the organization of bias. Katz, in a previous statement, wrote on X, ‘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 accused Guterres of giving his ‘backing to terrorists, rapists, and murderers’, branding him ‘a stain on the history of the UN.’
This incident further underscores the deep rift between Israel and the UN, highlighting the complexities and challenges in resolving the long-standing conflict in the region. The ongoing war in Gaza has resulted in significant human casualties and widespread destruction, with both sides accusing each other of war crimes. The international community remains deeply divided on how to address the crisis, with Israel facing criticism for its military operations, while Hamas is condemned for its use of rockets and attacks on civilians.