Worthy Christian News > Israel-Palestinian Conflict > Israeli FM Bans UNSG Guterres From Entering Israel for Not “Unequivocally” Condemning Iranian Missile Attack, Guterres Then Condemns Attack

Israeli FM Bans UNSG Guterres From Entering Israel for Not “Unequivocally” Condemning Iranian Missile Attack, Guterres Then Condemns Attack

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – Israel on Wednesday said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres did not deserve to enter the country because he did not immediately “unequivocally” condemn Iran’s Tuesday night missile attack on the Jewish state, Reuters reports. Guterres has since specifically condemned the attack.

Driving people across Israel into bomb shelters, Iran fired more than 180 ballistic missiles in an attack that ultimately caused less damage than might be expected – although 100 houses were damaged, several Israelis were injured, and one Palestinian man was killed.

In a statement issued on Tuesday following the attack, Guterres condemned only what he called “the broadening of the Middle East conflict, with escalation after escalation.”

Responding to Guterres, Israeli foreign minister Israel Katz retorted Wednesday: “Anyone who cannot unequivocally condemn Iran’s heinous attack on Israel, as nearly all the countries of the world have done, does not deserve to set foot on Israeli soil,” Katz said. “Israel will continue to defend its citizens and uphold its national dignity, with or without Antonio Guterres.”

However, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said about Katz’s announcement: “Steps like these are not productive to (Israel) improving its standing in the world.”

On Wednesday, following a Security Council meeting, Guterres said: “As I did in relation to the Iranian attack in April – and as should have been obvious yesterday in the context of the condemnation I expressed – I again strongly condemn yesterday’s massive missile attack by Iran on Israel.”