Israel has barred UN Secretary-General António Guterres from entering the country, accusing him of failing to “unequivocally” condemn Iran’s missile attack on Tuesday night.
The ban follows Iran’s launch of over 180 ballistic missiles at Israel after Israel escalated its conflict with Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed group.
On October 2, Guterres issued a brief statement referencing the “latest attacks in the Middle East” and called for an end to the cycle of escalation.
In response, Israeli Foreign Affairs Minister Israel Katz declared Guterres “persona non grata,” banning him from entering the country.
Katz stated that anyone unable to clearly condemn Iran’s attack, as many other nations have, should not be allowed on Israeli soil.
Katz also criticized Guterres for not condemning Hamas’ October 7 attacks on Israel, which involved massacres and sexual violence, and for not advancing steps to officially label Hamas as a terrorist organization. He added that Guterres’ perceived support for groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Iran would leave a lasting stain on the UN’s history.
As tensions in the region grow, Israel has increased its military presence in southern Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that “Iran made a big mistake… and it will pay for it.”
Reports suggest that Israel is preparing to target strategic sites, including oil production facilities inside Iran.
