The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has condemned Iranian missile strikes on Israel, following earlier tensions that led to him being declared persona non grata by Israel for his initial response to the situation.
In remarks to the UN Security Council, Guterres stressed the need to end the “deadly cycle of tit-for-tat violence” in the Middle East. He also clarified his stance, saying that he had condemned the Iranian attack on Israel and reiterated his condemnation following the recent missile barrage. He stated, “These attacks do not seem to support the cause of the Palestinian people or alleviate their suffering.”
Israel’s Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, had earlier criticized Guterres, calling him an “anti-Israel secretary-general” after Guterres initially called for a ceasefire without directly addressing Iran’s attack. Katz declared that anyone unable to unequivocally condemn Iran’s actions did not deserve to set foot in Israel.
On Tuesday, Iran launched around 180 ballistic missiles at Israel, most of which were intercepted, according to Israeli authorities. Guterres condemned the ongoing escalation in the region, describing the military campaign in Gaza as “the most deadly and destructive” during his tenure as UN Secretary-General.
The conflict in the region has been marked by rising tensions between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah, following a Hamas attack on southern Israel in early October, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the taking of 251 hostages.
Israel’s military response in Gaza has led to a death toll of 41,689 people, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. This ongoing conflict has also created friction between Israel and the UN, particularly over the role of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), with accusations of some staff members’ involvement in the 7 October attacks, which led to an internal investigation and the dismissal of several staff members.