On Wednesday, Israel’s foreign minister, Israel Katz, stated that the government has prohibited United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres from entering the country for failing to “unequivocally” denounce Iran’s missile attack against Israel.
It should be noted that Iran launched ballistic missiles toward Israel on Tuesday, amid an increase in conflict between Israel and its proxy in Lebanon, Hezbollah.
Guterres delivered a brief statement on Tuesday following the missile attack, criticizing “the broadening of the Middle East conflict, with escalation after escalation.”
Following Guterres’ remark, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz stated that Guterres’ reluctance to call out Iran rendered him persona non grata in Israel.
“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.
“Israel will continue to defend its citizens and uphold its national dignity, with or without Antonio Guterres,” Katz said.
Asked to react to the development, U.S. State Department spokesperson, Matthew Miller said: “Steps like these are not productive to (Israel) improving its standing in the world.”
“The U.N. does incredibly important work in Gaza. It does incredibly important work in the region. And the U.N., when it’s acting at its best, can play an important role for security and stability,” Miller added.
U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric described the announcement as political and “just one more attack, so to speak, on U.N. staff that we’ve seen from the government of Israel.”
He said the U.N. traditionally does not recognise the concept of persona non grata as applying to U.N. staff.Meanwhile, during a security council meeting on Wednesday, 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.”
Following Tehran’s launch of a volley of rockets at its archrival, world leaders urged Iran and Israel to back down.
Israeli military and Iran-backed Hezbollah fighters clashed on the ground in southern Lebanon on Wednesday, a day after Iran launched its largest-ever attack on Israel.
According to CNN, the Israeli military reported eight soldiers killed in combat on Wednesday.
On Wednesday, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission recommended Nigerians living in Lebanon to consider leaving the country as hostilities between the warring countries intensified.
NiDCOM’s Spokesperson, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, issued a statement urging Nigerians to take advantage of the fact that commercial flights were still flying, allowing for a safe evacuation.
“Worried by the attacks on Hezbollah and other areas in Lebanon by the Israeli government, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission is hereby advising Nigerians resident in Lebanon to consider moving out of the country now that commercial flights are still in operation.
“Though information from the Nigerian community in Lebanon indicated that most Nigerians have relocated from the southern part and are now relatively safe, we hereby advise them to keep safe until the ceasefire is in place,” the statement read in part.
-World leaders have condemned the escalating violence.-
The Chinese authority called on the international community, especially major influential powers, “to truly play a constructive role and prevent the situation from further deteriorating,” according to a foreign ministry spokesman in a statement published online.
“This situation is developing by the most worrying scenario,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also said on Wednesday, adding, “We call all sides towards restraint and we condemn any acts that could lead to the death of the civilian population.”
Hours earlier, Russia’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova denounced what she said was the “complete failure” of United States President Joe Biden’s approach.
“The White House’s incomprehensible statements demonstrate its complete helplessness in resolving crises,” she posted on Telegram.
Pope Francis also requested a day of prayer for peace on October 7, the anniversary of Hamas’ attack on Israel.
Biden directed the US military to “assist Israel’s defense against Iranian attacks and shoot down missiles that target Israel.”
The incident was “totally unacceptable” according to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
“Initial reports suggest that Israel, with the active support of the United States and other partners, effectively defeated this attack,” Blinken told the crowd.
The US and G7 members “unequivocally” condemn Iran’s missile attack on Israel, the White House said on Wednesday, adding that the group was also discussing fresh measures.
According to sources, Biden spoke with G7 members to address Iran’s “unacceptable” attack and to organize a response “including new sanctions,” the White House statement stated.
The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, decried the “broadening conflict in the Middle East”.
Guterres condemned “escalation after escalation” in the region, as Israel’s confrontation with Hezbollah expanded amid its continuing war with Palestinian Hamas terrorists in Gaza.
“This must stop. “We absolutely need a ceasefire,” he stated.
