Israel Bans UN Chief Antonio Guterres from Entering Country

Israel Bans UN Chief Antonio Guterres Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions.

Israel has taken a drastic measure by banning United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres from entering the country. This decision comes after Guterres failed to unequivocally condemn Iran’s missile attack on Israel, which saw over 180 ballistic missiles launched on Tuesday night.

Condemnation and Criticism

Guterres’ brief statement on Wednesday morning, calling for an end to “escalation after escalation” in the Middle East, was deemed insufficient by Israeli authorities.

Israel’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Israel Katz, slammed Guterres for not denouncing the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, which involved massacres and sexual violence. Katz also criticized Guterres for not pushing to officially label Hamas a terrorist organization.

Israel’s Response

In a statement, Katz declared Guterres “persona non grata” in Israel, stating that anyone who cannot condemn Iran’s attack does not deserve to enter Israeli soil. This move is part of Israel’s broader response to Iran’s missile attack, which has sparked fears of an all-out war in the region.

Regional Tensions Escalate

As tensions rise, Israel has deployed more troops to southern Lebanon to target Iran-backed Hezbollah . Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that Iran “made a big mistake… and it will pay for it”.

Reports suggest Israel is planning to target Iran’s oil production facilities and other strategic sites in retaliation. The US has expressed support for Israel’s response, with President Joe Biden discussing the situation with Netanyahu.