World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has voiced his support for United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres after Israel declared him “persona non-grata.” This decision from Israel, termed “troubling and regrettable” by Ghebreyesus, has raised concerns regarding the role of the UN in promoting global unity and maintaining international peace.
In a recent post on social media platform X, Ghebreyesus emphasised the importance of the UN in fostering collaboration among nations and urged Israel to reconsider its stance.
He stated, “Israel’s decision to declare Secretary-General Antonio Guterres persona non grata is troubling and regrettable. The UN is vital for fostering unity and maintaining international peace and security. We urge a reversal of this decision and a renewed focus on peace efforts.”
Furthermore, Ghebreyesus reiterated WHO's full support for Guterres and his UN colleagues in their humanitarian missions. He stressed the need for peace as the best solution to ongoing global conflicts, indicating that humanitarian aid is essential for those affected by such crises.
The controversy began on October 2 when Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz announced the government’s decision to ban Guterres from entering Israel. Katz asserted that any individual who fails to condemn Iran’s actions against Israel does not deserve to set foot in the country. He criticised Guterres for not condemning the violence and atrocities committed by Hamas during recent conflicts, which he stated occurred on October 7.
In a statement on X, Katz made it clear that Guterres had not denounced the violent acts associated with Hamas. He stated, “Today, I have declared UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres persona non grata in Israel and banned him from entering the country. 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’s remarks also highlighted his concerns about Guterres' perceived support for groups he labelled as terrorist organisations. He asserted that Guterres would be remembered as a stain on the UN's history for allegedly backing groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, which he described as responsible for significant violence and terror in the region. Katz added that Israel would continue to protect its citizens and uphold national dignity, regardless of Guterres’ position.
The tensions escalated further after Guterres issued a statement condemning the recent missile attacks from Iran towards Israel. During a UN Security Council meeting on October 2, he expressed deep concern over the escalating violence in the region. Guterres characterised the situation in the Middle East as deteriorating rapidly, stating, “The raging fires in the Middle East are fast becoming an inferno.”
He addressed the Security Council regarding the significant increase in violence since his last briefing and condemned Iran's missile attack, stating that these actions do not contribute to the Palestinian cause or alleviate their suffering. He reported that approximately 200 ballistic missiles were launched at Israel by Iran as retaliation for the killings of key military figures in the region.
Guterres reported that the Iranian missile strikes forced millions in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories to seek shelter. Tragically, one individual in the occupied West Bank lost their life due to these missile attacks. The UN Secretary-General made it clear that while he condemned the missile attacks, such actions only served to exacerbate the already critical situation in the region.
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