Israel says it will ban UN staff after secretary general’s comments Is he justifying Hamas Attack?
António Guterres said Hamas attacks had to be seen in context of ‘years of suffocating occupation’
Terrorism of this scale cannot be justified what ever the reasons may be.
All nations particularly UN should not make such comments which justify the October 7 attack on Israel civilians
Israel asserts its right to retaliate decisively against Hamas terrorists. In response to UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ comments linking recent Hamas attacks to decades of Palestinian occupation, Israel has taken a bold stance. They are refusing to issue visas to UN representatives, with Ambassador Gilad Erdan declaring, “The time has come to teach them a lesson.” This decision stems from a long-standing Israeli belief that UN agencies, particularly the UN Human Rights Council, hold an anti-Israeli agenda.
The extent of this visa ban within the UN hierarchy remains unclear, as many UN employees work for UNRWA, the agency for Palestinian relief and works. In the US, some Republicans and Israel expressed outrage at Guterres’ characterization of Israel’s actions as “collective punishment” and “clear violations of international humanitarian law.”
Martin Griffiths, a former British diplomat and UN envoy, has consistently emphasized the inadequacy of aid to Gaza. He has called for a ceasefire to allow much-needed humanitarian assistance into the region. The US recently vetoed a UN resolution calling for a humanitarian pause in Gaza, as it did not explicitly address Israel’s self-defense concerns.
The US has introduced its draft resolution at the UN Security Council, emphasizing Israel’s right to self-defense while advocating for voluntary movement of people within Gaza and humanitarian access for UN agencies and other impartial organizations. Russia has proposed its counter-resolution, calling for an unconditional ceasefire. A vote on these resolutions may occur later this week.
Despite the US’s opposition to a formal ceasefire, there seems to be a nuanced distinction between a “humanitarian pause” and a “humanitarian lull.” The former may involve temporary, limited interruptions in operations to protect civilians and provide assistance.
While Israel and its foreign minister, Eli Cohen, have expressed anger at Guterres’ remarks, many other countries at the UN debate criticized Israel’s operation against Hamas in Gaza. Egypt’s foreign affairs minister, Sameh Shoukry, labeled the situation in Palestinian territories as “horrific” and questioned the justifications offered for Israel’s actions.
In summary, Israel’s response to recent UN statements by Guterres reflects its unwavering commitment to self-defense and its perception of an anti-Israel bias within UN agencies. This situation continues to evolve as different nations express their positions and push for resolutions at the UN Security Council.
