Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz has officially declared United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres persona non grata in Israel, banning him from entering the country. The announcement was made through Katz’s account on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The decision comes in response to Guterres’ perceived failure to condemn Iran’s recent missile attack on Israel, which was reportedly carried out in retaliation for the deaths of prominent figures, including Hassan Nasrallah of Hezbollah, Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas, and Abbas Nilforoushan of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Katz stated, “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 criticized Guterres for not denouncing the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, which involved massacres and sexual violence, and for not supporting the official designation of Hamas as a terrorist organization.
In his statement, Katz emphasized that a Secretary-General who aligns with terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah would tarnish the legacy of the UN. He reiterated Israel’s commitment to defending its citizens and maintaining its national honor, regardless of Guterres’ presence.