Israel bans UN chief Guterres from entering country, Italy PM Meloni to host G7 leaders
Updated: Oct 2nd, 2024
Israel today declared UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres persona non grata and banned him from entering the country for his failure to “unequivocally condemn” Iran’s missile attack.
“Today, I have declared UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres persona non grata in Israel and banned him from entering the country. 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,” announced Israeli Foreign Affairs Minister Israel Katz, late this afternoon.
With the first anniversary of the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel just a few days away, Katz slammed the United Nations chief for failing to act against the terror organisations.
“This is a Secretary-General who has yet to denounce the massacre and sexual atrocities committed by Hamas murderers on Oct 7, nor has he led any efforts to declare them a terrorist organisation. A Secretary-General who gives backing to terrorists, rapists, and murderers from Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and now Iran—the mothership of global terror—will be remembered as a stain on the history of the UN,” the Israeli Foreign Minister wrote on X.
He added that Israel will continue to defend its citizens and “uphold its national dignity, with or without Antonio Guterres”.
The UN Secretary General had on Oct 1 said that he is “extremely concerned” with the escalation of the conflict in Lebanon and appealed for an immediate ceasefire.
Guterres said that an all-out war must be avoided in Lebanon “at all costs”, and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon must be respected.
He posted another message on X a few hours later when Iran attacked Israel with nearly 200 missiles on the night of Oct 1.
“I condemn the broadening of the Middle East conflict, with escalation after escalation. This must stop. We absolutely need a ceasefire,” said Guterres.
Italian PM to host G7 leaders
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni today (IST) will host a call of Group of Seven (G7) leaders on the worsening of the crisis in the Middle East following Iran’s attack on Israel.
Meloni took the decision after holding an urgent Cabinet meeting at Palazzo Chigi to discuss the situation and assess the necessary measures after the latest escalation.
The meeting was attended by the Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who joined remotely; the Minister of Defence, Guido Crosetto; Undersecretary of State Alfredo Mantovano, who is delegated authority for the security services; the heads of the secret services; the diplomatic advisor to the President of the Council of Ministers; and, the Italian Ambassador to Israel, Luca Ferrari, who also joined remotely.
“Italy will continue to strive for a diplomatic solution, including in its capacity as chair of the G7. I have convened a leaders’ level meeting for this afternoon,” Meloni was quoted as telling her Cabinet.
On October 1, during her call with the Prime Minister of Lebanon Najib Mikati, Meloni assured that Italy will continue to work for a de-escalation at regional level.
(This story was taken from a syndicated feed and was only edited for style by Gujarat Samachar Digital staff)
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