At a Tuesday Security Council meeting, Israel’s UN Ambassador strongly criticizes Secretary-General António Guterres’ words and asks for his resignation.
Ambassador Gilad Erdan termed Guterres’ statement “shocking” since Hamas’ October 7th terror attack on Israel “did not happen in a vacuum” and the “Palestinian people have been subjected to 56 years of suffocating occupation.”
Erdan was the first Israeli ambassador to call for Guterres’ resignation. His follow-up: “The @UN Secretary-General, who promotes mass slaughter of children, women, and the elderly, is unqualified to lead. I demand his resignation now.”
Guterres said, “It is important to also recognize the Hamas attacks did not happen in a vacuum.”
After 56 years of injustice, Palestinians Settlements and violence have ruined their land, economy, people, and homes. Their political solution hopes are receding “said the secretary-general.
Hamas’ crimes aren’t justified by Palestinian anger. The horrible atrocities do not warrant Palestinian collective reprisal, he said.
At the UN, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen warned Guterres, “Gaza has babies and children. This is insane. A horrible existence.”
He said, “They are victims of evil.” Please explain your reality, Mr. Secretary-General. This is not our planet.”
Where’s the indignation, said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken? Revulsion where? Where’s rejection? These evils are expressly denounced where? Every country has the right to defend itself and prevent such evil.”
Erdan told a press conference that “The U.N. is failing” and that “Mr. Secretary-General, denying that these atrocities occurred in a vacuum enables terrorists. Tolerating terrorism justifies it.”