The United Nations has responded to Israel's decision to ban Secretary-General Antonio Guterres from entering the country, characterizing it as a political statement by Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric emphasized that despite this development, the organization's operational contacts with Israel will persist due to necessity.
This incident marks another chapter in the long-standing tensions between Israel and the UN, which have intensified since the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023. These attacks resulted in approximately 1,200 Israeli casualties and triggered a conflict in Gaza that has reportedly led to over 41,000 Palestinian deaths, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
The UN, founded in 1945 after World War II, has faced accusations of bias and antisemitism from Israel for decades. However, the current rift has reached new heights amid the ongoing conflict. Guterres, who became the 9th Secretary-General in 2017, has been criticized by Israeli officials for his statements regarding the conflict.
"Guterres has never condemned the terror attacks, the acts of sexual violence and other horrors that we've seen."
The UN strongly refutes this claim, asserting that Guterres has repeatedly condemned the attacks and associated violence. However, Israel took particular issue with the Secretary-General's initial statement that the Hamas attack didn't occur "in a vacuum," viewing it as downplaying the severity of the assault.
The situation is further complicated by Israel's accusations against the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), established in 1949. Israel claims some UNRWA staff members are affiliated with Hamas and participated in the October 7 attacks. The UN's internal watchdog is investigating these allegations, while UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini has accused Israel of attempting to dismantle the agency's operations.
The UN has also been critical of Israel's military response in Gaza, with Guterres describing it as "collective punishment" of Palestinians. This stance has further strained relations between the two parties.
The concept of declaring someone "persona non grata," which originates from diplomatic practice, is not recognized by the UN when applied to its staff. The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, adopted in 1961, typically governs such matters between countries, not international organizations.
Despite these tensions, the UN, with its 193 member states, continues to engage with Israel at operational levels. The organization's commitment to maintaining dialogue underscores the complex nature of international diplomacy and the UN's role in mediating global conflicts.
As the situation in the Middle East remains volatile, with recent escalations involving Lebanon and Iran, the UN Security Council, comprising 15 members including 5 permanent ones, held an emergency meeting to address the growing concerns. Guterres called for an immediate halt to the escalation of violence, warning of potentially catastrophic consequences for the region.
The ongoing crisis highlights the challenges faced by the UN in its mission to maintain international peace and security. As the organization approaches its 80th anniversary next year, it continues to navigate complex geopolitical landscapes while striving to uphold its founding principles.