'Persona non grata': Israel bans UN chief from entering country
Israel has banned UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres from entering the country, declaring him persona non grata, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday.
Katz accused Guterres of backing "terrorists, rapists, and murderers from Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and now Iran" as part of the reason why the decision was made.
"Anyone who cannot unequivocally condemn Iran's heinous attack on Israel, as almost every country in the world has done, does not deserve to step foot on Israeli soil," Katz said on X.
"Israel will continue to defend its citizens and uphold its national dignity, with or without Antonio Guterres."
Today, I have declared UN Secretary-General @antonioguterres persona non grata in Israel and banned him from entering the country.
— ישראל כ”ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) October 2, 2024
Anyone who cannot unequivocally condemn Iran's heinous attack on Israel, as almost every country in the world has done, does not deserve to step…
Following the Iranian attack on Israel on Tuesday, Guterres said he condemned the "broadening of the Middle East conflict with escalation after escalation."
"This must stop," he said on X. "We absolutely need a ceasefire."