United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres made a statement to the press at the UN building in New York. Reminding that he condemned the attack carried out by Hamas in Israel on October 7 at the high-level Israeli-Palestinian session held at the UN Security Council yesterday, Guterres said, “Nothing can justify the deliberate killing, kidnapping of civilians or firing rockets at civilian targets.” said.
Guterres said that in his speech, he also touched upon the suffering of the Palestinian people, but that these did not justify Hamas’ attacks, and that he explained the details of the crisis in the Middle East.
“I was shocked that the statements I made yesterday at the UN Security Council were misinterpreted and portrayed as justifying Hamas’ terrorist activities. This is not true,” said Guterres, adding that he felt the need to make a statement out of respect for the victims and their families.
THERE WAS A REACTION FROM THE ISRAELI DELEGATION
Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen emphasized in his statement yesterday that Guterres canceled his meeting with him due to the statements he made at the UN Security Council.
Israel’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Gilad Erdan, argued that Guterres was not suitable to head the UN and called for the immediate resignation of the Secretary-General.
Erdan said, “We will review our relations with the UN and UN officials in our region” and described Guterres’ statements as “supporting terrorism”.
ANNOUNCED THAT THEY WILL NOT GIVE A VISA
Israel’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Gilad Erdan, said in a statement today that Israel will not grant visas to UN officials due to Guterres’ statements. Erdan said, “We rejected the visa of UN Deputy Secretary-General Martin Griffiths. It is time to teach them a lesson.”
WHAT DID GUTERRES SAY?
In his speech at the UN Security Council yesterday, UN Secretary General Guterres condemned the attacks carried out by Hamas in Israel on October 7 and said:
“However, we must also be aware that Hamas attacks do not occur out of nowhere. The Palestinian people have been subjected to a suffocating occupation for 56 years. They are witnessing the step-by-step seizure of their lands by settlements and violence. Their economies have been destroyed, people have been displaced and their homes have been razed to the ground. There is no need for a political solution.” “Their faith began to disappear.”
Guterres stated that Hamas’ attacks against Israelis “cannot justify collective punishment of the Palestinian people” and added, “Even wars have rules.” he said. (AA-IHA)
