Israel Slammed as ‘A Pariah State’ for Banning UN Chief!

On Wednesday, Israel’s Foreign Minister declared United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres unwelcome, effectively banning him from the country. This drastic action followed a statement by Guterres that criticized all escalating military activities in the Middle East.

Via a social media update, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz charged Guterres with not clearly condemning Iran’s recent retaliatory strike on Israel. According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the assault involved Iranian missiles targeting Israeli air bases, though it resulted in no civilian casualties.

Amidst ongoing shelling of Gaza and Lebanon by Israeli forces, the tension in the region is high, with Israel reportedly preparing for a “significant retaliation.”

Following the attack by Iran, Guterres issued a statement lamenting the “expansion of the Middle East conflict” and advocated for a ceasefire. However, this suggestion has faced continuous resistance from Israel’s administration under the far-right leadership of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

In a misleading claim on Wednesday, Katz stated that Guterres had not yet denounced the Hamas-led attack on Israel from October 7. Contrary to Katz’s claim, Guterres had already condemned the October 7 assault by Hamas on Israeli locales near and around the Gaza Strip and central Israel “in the strongest terms.”

Trita Parsi, executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, expressed concern over Katz’s actions, indicating that “Israel seems to embrace its status as a pariah state.”

“What benefits does this hold for the security of Israel in the long run?” Parsi questioned. He further criticized the United States, Israel’s closest ally, for its role in supporting rather than curbing Israel’s contentious path.

Following the announcement by Katz, Palestinian doctor and politician Mustafa Barghouti remarked that the Israeli government’s arrogance and reckless actions seem to know no bounds.

The prohibition of Guterres from entering Israel is the latest in a series of aggressive actions towards the U.N. by Israel, which has included repeated targeting of U.N. personnel and facilities in Gaza over the last year.

A confidential report released in July by Drop Site revealed that since October 7, Israeli military actions have resulted in the deaths of at least 366 U.N. staff members and their relatives in Gaza.