Israel’s foreign minister, Israel Katz, announced on Wednesday that U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has been barred from entering the country due to his failure to “unequivocally” condemn Iran’s recent missile attack on Israel.
The announcement followed Iran’s launch of over 180 ballistic missiles at Israel on Tuesday.
While many missiles were intercepted, some breached Israel’s missile defenses.
The attack came amid heightened fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militant group based in Lebanon. Earlier that day, Israel had deployed troops into southern Lebanon.
Guterres responded to the missile strike with a brief statement condemning “the broadening of the Middle East conflict” and the escalating violence.
However, Katz criticized Guterres for not specifically denouncing Iran’s involvement in the attack, declaring him persona non grata in Israel.
“Anyone who cannot unequivocally condemn Iran’s heinous attack on Israel, as nearly all the countries of the world have done, does not deserve to set foot on Israeli soil,” Katz said.
He added that Israel would continue to defend itself with or without Guterres’ support.
U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller expressed concern over Israel’s decision during a press briefing, stating that such actions do not help Israel’s standing internationally.
He said that the U.N. plays the crucial role of promoting security and stability in the region, especially in Gaza.
Responding to the ban, U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric called the move political and noted that the U.N. does not recognise the concept of persona non grata as applicable to U.N. staff.
During a U.N. Security Council meeting on Wednesday, Guterres reaffirmed his condemnation of the missile attack.
“As I did in relation to the Iranian attack in April, I again strongly condemn yesterday’s massive missile attack by Iran on Israel,” he said.
