Israel revokes visas for UN personnel after UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres accused Israel of being behind Hamas’ attack

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres accused Israel of being behind Hamas’ attack on the Jewish state earlier this month, prompting Israel to revoke visas for UN personnel.

The Palestinian people have been under an oppressive occupation for 56 years, as Guterres noted, and the attacks by Hamas were not isolated incidents. He declared that the grievances of the Palestinian people did not justify the heinous attacks carried out by Hamas, nor could the collective punishment of the Palestinian people justify its application.

In addition to demanding Guterres’ resignation, Israel’s UN ambassador, Gilad Erdan, has already denied Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths’ visa. A meeting between Guterres and Foreign Minister Eli Cohen was called off, and Minister Benny Gantz denounced the UN chief as a “terror apologist.” According to the Foreign Ministry, Guterres’ remarks sparked shock and indignation, damaged his reputation and that of the organisation he leads, and revealed a skewed and prejudiced view of Israel. The ministry demanded that Guterres take responsibility for his remarks, undergo in-depth introspection, and issue an apology. The statement had caused distress to millions of Israelis who are still dealing with the aftermath of the deadly terrorist attack that occurred on October 7.