“Time to teach a lesson”
Israel denies visas to UN officials
October 25, 2023, 12:36 p.m
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UN Secretary General Guterres urged the Security Council to protect civilians in the Gaza war and said Hamas’ terrorist acts “did not take place in a vacuum.” The statements are not well received in Israel. The country reacts with harsh measures.
Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations has announced that his country will deny visas to UN officials after Secretary-General António Guterres’ comments justified Hamas’ attack on Israel. “Because of his statements, we will refuse to issue visas to UN representatives,” Gilad Erdan said on an Israeli radio station. “We have already refused a visa for the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Martin Griffiths,” said Erdan. “It’s time to teach them a lesson.”
Guterres had appealed to the Security Council for the protection of civilians in the Gaza war and expressed concern about “clear violations of international humanitarian law.” It is important to also recognize “that Hamas’ attacks did not take place in a vacuum,” he said. In this context, Guterres spoke of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.
Erdan had already strongly condemned Guterres’ statements and called for his resignation. Erdan Guterres accused the statement that “the murderous terrorist attack by Nazi Hamas did not take place in a vacuum” as a justification for terror and murder. Guterres has a “distorted and immoral view” of the massacre carried out by Hamas terrorists in Israel on October 7, Erdan wrote in an X-Post. Israel reported more than 1,400 deaths after the attack.
The German-Israeli Society (DIG) also called on the federal government to take a clear stand for Israel. Guterres has effectively “delegitimised Israel’s right to self-defense” and relativized the actions of the radical Islamic Hamas, explained DIG President Volker Beck. “It’s now time to show the flag.” He called Guterres’ speech unacceptable.