Israel’s foreign minister has banned the United Nations secretary-general from entering the country over his initial response to Iran’s missile attack on the country. Foreign Minister Israel Katz said U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres’ failure to call out Iran made him “unwelcome” in Israel.
Iran fired more than 180 ballistic missiles at Israel on Tuesday, Oct. 1.
Guterres released a brief statement condemning the “broadening of the Middle East conflict” and called for a cease-fire. He did not make any direct mention of Iran’s attack on Israel.
In a post on X, Katz said “Anyone who cannot unequivocally condemn Iran’s heinous attack on Israel, as almost every country in the world has done, does not deserve to step foot on Israeli soil.”
Katz also said Israel will continue to defend its citizens with or without Guterres.
Israel has a history of disagreeing with the U.N., which has intensified since Israel launched its war in Gaza.