The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has strongly condemned Iranian missile strikes on Israel after being banned from entering the country due to his initial response to the situation.
UN Calls for End to Violence
Speaking at a UN Security Council meeting, Guterres urged an end to the escalating violence in the Middle East, calling it a “deadly cycle of tit-for-tat violence”. He emphasized that it was time to bring peace to the region through meaningful efforts to stop further attacks and retaliation.
Israel’s Response to Guterres
Earlier, Israel’s Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, labeled Guterres as persona non grata (unwelcome) in Israel. Katz criticized the UN Secretary-General, calling him an “anti-Israel secretary-general” who seemingly supported terrorists by not initially condemning Iran’s actions directly.
Guterres’ Call for a Ceasefire
Guterres’ original call for a ceasefire, which did not specifically address the Iranian missile attack, led to strong reactions from Israeli officials. They were unhappy that his statement lacked a direct condemnation of the aggression against Israel.
Guterres’ Clarification and Condemnation
In response to the criticism, Guterres clarified his stance. He stated that he had condemned the attack in April and reiterated his “strong condemnation” of Iran’s recent massive missile attack on Israel during his address to the Security Council.
Iran’s Missile Strike on Israel
Most of these were intercepted by Israel’s defense systems, but the situation has further heightened tensions in the region. Guterres later posted on social media, condemning the “escalation” in the Middle East and warning against the continued broadening of the conflict.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Criticizes UN Chief
Before Guterres’ remarks at the Security Council, Katz made it clear that any leader who fails to “unequivocally condemn” Iran’s attack on Israel is not welcome in the country. He further accused Guterres of following an anti-Israel policy since the beginning of the conflict.
Recent Escalations in the Middle East
This latest attack from Iran is part of a growing series of confrontations that have been escalating over the past year. The situation started with Hamas attacks on Israel and has now expanded to include increased aggression from Hezbollah, a group backed by Iran, leading to more clashes with Israeli forces.
The ongoing violence between Israel and Iran-backed forces continues to raise concerns on the global stage, with the United Nations urging for peaceful resolutions to prevent further destruction in the region.