Israel prohibits UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres from entering the country

On Wednesday, Israel’s foreign minister announced that he was prohibiting United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres from entering the country due to his failure to “unequivocally” condemn Iran’s missile attack on Israel.

On Tuesday, Iran launched over 180 ballistic missiles at Israel in response to an intensification of hostilities between its proxy in Lebanon, Hezbollah, and Israel. Although numerous missiles were intercepted in mid-air, a few managed to penetrate missile defenses. There were no casualties reported.

On Tuesday, Guterres released a succinct statement that exclusively addressed the “most recent attacks in the Middle East” and condemned the conflict for “escalating after escalating.” Israel had dispatched troops into southern Lebanon earlier on Tuesday.

Israel Katz, the Israeli foreign minister, stated that Guterres’ failure to condemn Iran rendered 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 asserted.

“Israel will continue to defend its citizens and uphold its national dignity, with or without Antonio Guterres.”