Boma Achenimie 
Israel has officially declared United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres persona non grata, barring him from entering the country.
The Israel’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Israel Katz, made the announcement on Wednesday, following Guterres’ response to recent hostilities in the Middle East.
The decision comes after Iran fired nearly 200 ballistic missiles at Israel on Tuesday night, targeting key areas.
While world leaders swiftly condemned the attack, Guterres called for de-escalation without explicitly denouncing Iran’s actions, which sparked outrage in Israel.
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“I condemn the broadening of the Middle East conflict with escalation after escalation. This must stop. We absolutely need a ceasefire,” Guterres wrote in his statement.
However, Katz criticized the UN chief’s failure to specifically condemn Iran’s missile assault. “Anyone who cannot unequivocally condemn Iran’s heinous attack on Israel… does not deserve to step foot on Israeli soil,” Katz declared.
Katz also criticized Guterres for his inaction following Hamas’ October 7 massacre, accusing him of providing implicit support to terrorist groups. “A Secretary-General who gives backing to terrorists, rapists, and murderers… will be remembered as a stain on the history of the UN,” he added.
Israel’s decision reflects its growing frustration with what it perceives as inadequate international support in its fight against terrorism.
