Israel’s Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, announced on Wednesday that UN Secretary-General António Guterres has been declared persona non grata and is banned from entering the country, citing Guterres’ failure to strongly condemn Iran’s recent missile attack on Israel.
In a post on X (formerly known as Twitter), Katz expressed outrage over what he described as Guterres’ refusal to unequivocally denounce the assault. “Anyone who cannot unequivocally condemn Iran’s heinous attack on Israel, as almost every country in the world has done, does not deserve to set foot on Israeli soil,” Katz wrote. He further pointed out that Guterres had also failed to condemn Hamas’ violent actions, including the massacre on October 7 and the group’s alleged use of sexual violence.
The missile strike by Iran, part of the broader regional conflict, marked a significant escalation in hostilities, and the absence of a forceful rebuke from the UN chief appeared to further strain relations between Israel and the international body. While many nations condemned the Iranian attack, Guterres’ response, which primarily focused on the broader risk of conflict across the Middle East, notably lacked any direct criticism of Tehran.
Katz also took the opportunity to criticize Guterres for not leading international efforts to designate Hamas, Hezbollah, and other Iran-backed groups as terrorist organizations. “A Secretary-General who gives backing to terrorists, rapists, and murderers from Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and now Iran—the mothership of global terror—will be remembered as a stain on the history of the UN,” Katz declared.
The Israeli foreign minister’s condemnation reflects the government’s growing frustration with what it perceives as insufficient action by the UN and its leadership on issues central to Israel’s security. Katz’s statement came shortly after Guterres voiced concerns on social media regarding the intensification of violence in the region. On Monday, as Israeli ground forces entered southern Lebanon following missile strikes from Hezbollah, Guterres called for restraint, emphasizing the need to avoid all-out war in Lebanon and respect the country’s sovereignty.
Following Iran’s missile barrage on Tuesday, Guterres reiterated calls for a ceasefire without directly addressing the attack on Israel, sparking further discontent in Jerusalem. The omission of Israel in these remarks has heightened tensions between the UN and Israeli officials, who have repeatedly urged the international community to take a firmer stance against Iranian aggression and its regional proxies.
Katz concluded his message by affirming Israel’s determination to defend itself, regardless of Guterres’ position: “Israel will continue to defend its citizens and uphold its national dignity, with or without António Guterres.”
The public denunciation of Guterres marks a significant diplomatic escalation in Israel’s fraught relationship with the United Nations, which has long been a source of contention for Israeli leaders. How this rift will impact future UN-Israel relations remains to be seen, but for now, Israel’s government appears resolute in its stance against the current Secretary-General’s approach to Middle Eastern conflicts.
