United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued a strong condemnation of Iran’s recent missile attack on Israel, which took place on Tuesday. His remarks come in the wake of Israel’s decision to declare him persona non grata, effectively banning him from entering the country.
Israel’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Israel Katz, accused Guterres of supporting terrorism in the region, stating, “I have declared UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres persona non grata in Israel and banned him from entering the country. 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.”
In response to being declared unwelcome, Guterres clarified that his earlier statement should have been interpreted as a clear condemnation of the nearly 200 ballistic missiles launched by Iran towards Israel. He wrote, “Yesterday, Iran launched approximately 200 ballistic missiles towards Israel. Millions of people across Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory were forced to seek shelter. As I did regarding the Iranian attack in April, I again strongly condemn yesterday’s massive missile attack by Iran on Israel.”
Guterres emphasized that such attacks do not advance the cause of the Palestinian people or alleviate their suffering, highlighting the complex dynamics of the ongoing conflict in the region.
