Israel Declares UN Sec. Gen. Persona Non Grata

Israel’s Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, announced on Wednesday that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has been denied entry into the country. This decision follows what Israel says is Guterres’s failure to “unequivocally” condemn Iran’s missile attacks on Israel.

On Tuesday, Iran launched over 180 ballistic missiles at Israel, some of which breached its defences. Guterres condemned the widening conflict but did not specifically denounce Iran’s actions.

Katz stated, “Anyone who cannot unequivocally condemn Iran’s heinous attack does not deserve to set foot on Israeli soil,” declaring Guterres “persona non grata.”

Katz affirmed that Israel will defend its citizens “with or without” Guterres. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to retaliate against Iran for its missile attack on Israel, which he called a “big mistake.” 

U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller criticised the move as counterproductive to Israel’s global standing. Meanwhile, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric described the ban as a political manoeuvre and noted that the UN does not recognise the concept of persona non grata for its officials.

During a Security Council meeting, Guterres reiterated his condemnation of the Iranian attack and called for an end to the “deadly cycle of tit-for-tat violence” in the Middle East. He also criticised Israel’s military operations in Gaza as “the most deadly and destructive” during his tenure.