On October 24, 2023, addressing the debate in the Council on the worsening crisis in Israel and Palestine, the United Nations Chief Antonio Guterres said that although nothing could justify the appalling attacks by Hamas on October 7, 2023, which triggered the siege and bombardment of Gaza, it was important to understand that they did not happen in vacuum and did not justify the collective punishment of Palestinians.
Following the briefing of UN Secretary General on October 7, 2023, Israel’s ambassador to the UN Gilad Eran tweeted that in effect, Guterres speech had sought to justify Hamas brutal assault which left some 1,400 people dead, mainly civilians.
Resignation Demand
The Israeli Ambassador demanded that the UN Chief resign and later said that Israel will now withhold visas from the UN officials. Israel’s Foreign Minister Eli Cohen also accused Guterres of justifying terrorism and cancelled a bilateral meeting with the UN Chief the same day. Later, the UN Chief met families of those taken hostage by Hamas fighters and reaffirmed his call for the immediate and unconditional release of all those behind held behind the violation of the international law inside Gaza.
Statement by Israeli Officials
“The Secretary General once again distorts and twists reality. Every person understands and understood the meaning of the words: Israel is guilty for the actions by Hamas, or at the very least, a demonstration of the understanding and justification by the secretary general for the massacre,” Erdan said in a statement.
“A secretary general who does not understands the murder of innocents can have no justification and background cannot be called secretary general he added. Due to Guterres remarks, we will refuse to issue visas to the UN representatives. “We already have refused a visa for the Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths. The time has come to teach them a lesson,” he said.
Letter to Guterres
Likud MK Yuli Edelstein, the chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affair and Defence Committee sent an English language letter addressed to Guterres, which read: “Mr. Secretary General, You opened by saying that nothing can justify the deliberate killings, injuring and kidnapping the civilians. However, you have made an about face and added that Hamas did not happen in vacuum.
Statements of these kinds legitimise murderers, rapists, and terrorist around the world. He later tweeted a photo of the letter and in Hebrew language post said Guterres remarks were truly insane and that against the back drop of surging anti -Semitism around the world, his grave remarks fueling a giant fire of hate,”
Shocked at the Misrepresentations
In a statement to the correspondents at the stakeout outside the UNSC on the morning of October 26, 2023, the UN Secretary General Guterres said that he was “shocked by the misrepresentation by some of my statement.” Acknowledging that he had spoken of Palestinian grievances, he stressed that he already said in the Security Council that “the grievances of the Palestinian people cannot justify the attacks on Hamas.
Without referring to Israeli diplomats specifically, the UN Chief said it was necessary to set the record straight especially out of respects to then victim and to their families and to their families. I spoke of the grievances of the Palestinian people and in doing so, I also clearly stated and I quote: “ But the grievances of the Palestinian people cannot justify the appalling attacks by Hamas.
Israel’s Offensive Against Gaza
Israel has responded to the Hamas assault by vowing to destroy the terror group and launching various intensive strikes in Gaza. It has struck terror targets while trying to avoid civilian casualties. The Hamas controlled health ministry has said that these strikes have killed 6,500 Palestinians so far.
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