United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addressed recent allegations by Israel that he had purportedly justified Hamas attacks on Israel in a statement to the Security Council. Guterres expressed his shock at the misrepresentations and emphasized that he was not condoning acts of terror by Hamas, asserting the contrary.
In his statement to the Security Council, Guterres had urged the protection of civilians amidst the conflict between Israel and Hamas, expressing concern over perceived violations of international humanitarian law in the Gaza Strip. He emphasized the importance of recognizing that warfare is bound by rules, particularly the fundamental principle of safeguarding civilians.
While acknowledging the longstanding grievances of the Palestinian people due to decades of occupation, Guterres firmly stated that these grievances cannot validate the reprehensible attacks carried out by Hamas. Likewise, he emphasized that such attacks do not excuse the collective punishment of the Palestinian population.
Following Guterres' remarks, Israel's U.N. Ambassador Gilad Erdan criticized the speech as "shocking" and called for Guterres' immediate resignation. Additionally, Israel's Foreign Minister Eli Cohen chose not to proceed with a planned meeting with Guterres and instead, Guterres met with representatives of the hostages held in Gaza.
Guterres reiterated his unequivocal condemnation of the October 7 Hamas attacks, which resulted in the loss of 1,400 lives. He emphasized that nothing justifies the deliberate targeting of civilians or the launching of rockets against civilian targets.
In his statement on Wednesday, Guterres underscored the need to set the record straight, especially out of respect for the victims and their families. This clarification aims to provide a clear understanding of his position on the matter.
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