Israeli officials call for UN Secretary-General Guterres’ resignation over handling of Gaza conflict
NEW YORK / TEL AVIV — Against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen stated that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is not fit for the leadership role in the international organization.
Addressing reporters at the UN headquarters in New York during a press conference, the Israeli minister criticized Guterres for not actively promoting peace processes in the region. Cohen asserted that Guterres should take a firm stance in demanding the liberation of Gaza from the control of Hamas.
Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, went a step further by calling for Guterres’ resignation. Erdan argued that anyone displaying an understanding of what he labeled as the mass murder of children, women, and the elderly is not qualified to hold the position of Secretary-General.
These calls from Israeli officials are a response to Guterres’ recent statements in which he indicated that the 7 October Hamas attack launched from Gaza did not occur in isolation. Guterres pointed out that Palestine has been grappling with occupation for 75 years.