Israel has barred United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres from entering the country after he failed to issue a strong condemnation of Iran’s missile attack on Israel, according to an announcement by Israel’s Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, on Wednesday.
The move comes after Iran launched ballistic missiles at Israel on Tuesday, escalating tensions in the Middle East amid ongoing clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, an Iran-backed group based in Lebanon.
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In a statement following the missile strike, Guterres condemned the expanding conflict in the region but did not single out Iran, which Israel found unacceptable.
Katz criticized Guterres, stating that any leader who could not directly condemn Iran’s actions did not deserve to visit Israel, affirming Israel’s commitment to defending itself, regardless of Guterres’ stance.
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The U.S. State Department and U.N. officials expressed concern over Israel’s decision. U.S. spokesperson Matthew Miller described the move as unproductive, while U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric dismissed the declaration, noting the U.N. does not recognize the concept of “persona non grata” for its staff.
Amid the escalating violence, international leaders called for restraint. China urged global powers to take a constructive role in de-escalating the conflict, while Russia denounced U.S. President Joe Biden’s approach, calling it ineffective in resolving the crisis.
French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also condemned Iran’s missile strikes, urging a halt to the violence.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces and Hezbollah engaged in ground fighting in southern Lebanon on Wednesday, adding to the tension following Iran’s largest-ever missile attack on Israel.
The conflict has led to the death of eight Israeli soldiers, according to Israeli military sources.
In response to the growing unrest, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) urged Nigerians living in Lebanon to consider leaving the country while commercial flights are still available, warning that the escalating conflict poses a significant threat to safety.
World leaders, including Pope Francis, have continued to call for an immediate ceasefire to prevent further deterioration of the situation, as Israel vows to respond to Iran’s actions.
