Israel’s representative to the United Nations, Danny Danon, is furious with U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres’ remarks on Tuesday, calling for him to “retract his abhorrent statement or step down now and resign from his position.” Guterres, after condemning Hamas attacking Israel on October 7, blamed Israel for the attacks saying, “It is important to also recognize the attacks by Hamas did not happen in a vacuum. The Palestinian people have been subjected to 56 years of suffocating occupation.” He continued, “But the grievances of the Palestinian people cannot justify the appalling attacks by Hamas. And those appalling attacks cannot justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.” Guterres also criticized Israel for its continued attacks on Gaza, calling for civilians to evacuate to the south and accusing Israel of violating international humanitarian law. In response, Danon said, “he is wrongfully legitimizing and justifying the gruesome massacre of men, women, children and babies, and the savage kidnapping of over 222 innocent babies, children and civilians who are still being held by Hamas.” Israel has responded by saying that U.N. officials coming to Israel would be denied entry visas.
