UN Secretary-General António Guterres has been declared persona non grata in Israel, prohibiting him from entering the country.
This announcement was made by Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz via X (formerly Twitter), stating,
"Today I declared UN Secretary-General António Guterres persona non grata in Israel and banned him from entering the country."
Katz emphasized that anyone who cannot unequivocally condemn Iran's attack on Israel, as nearly all other countries have, does not deserve to set foot on Israeli soil. He criticized Guterres for not condemning the atrocities committed by Hamas on October 7, 2023, and for not leading efforts to classify them as a terrorist organization. Katz described Guterres as a supporter of terrorists and indicated that Israel would continue to defend its citizens and uphold its national dignity, with or without him.
Just a day prior, Guterres expressed concern over the escalation of conflict in Lebanon in response to Iran's attack on Israel, calling for an immediate ceasefire and emphasizing the need to respect Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
On October 2, Iran launched a massive attack on Israel, firing approximately 180 ballistic missiles in retaliation for the killing of Hassan Nasrallah and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. Israel stated that Iran's strike would have consequences, following its previous airstrike on Beirut targeting Nasrallah, who has led Hezbollah for over 30 years.
