Israel UN Ambassador Demands Secretary General Resign After Speech
Israel's ambassador to the United Nations is calling for the resignation of U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres after he made "horrible" remarks at a meeting of the Security Council, showing "understanding" for the terrorist organization Hamas and their deadly attacks on Israel. Ambassador Gilad Erdan described Guterres' comments as "disconnected from reality" and "distorted and immoral."
During the Oct. 7 attacks, Hamas terrorists launched a series of rockets at civilian targets in Israel, resulting in the deaths of several innocent civilians. Guterres had condemned these "horrifying" acts of terror, but he also stated that the attacks did not happen in a vacuum, pointing to the long-standing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian people.
Erdan's strong words came in response to Guterres' understanding of the situation, which he believed justified the acts of terrorism. "The shocking speech by the U.N. Secretary-General...proved conclusively, beyond any doubt, that the Secretary-General is completely disconnected from the reality in our region," Erdan posted on X, formerly Twitter.
In his statement, Guterres also mentioned the ongoing occupation and displacement of the Palestinian people, which he believes have been the source of their grievances and desperation. But this does not justify the "appalling" attacks by Hamas, according to Guterres. He also added that the collective punishment of the Palestinian people should be condemned.
Eli Cohen, Israel's Foreign Minister, responded to Guterres' remarks during the U.N. meeting, expressing disbelief and shock. "As we meet here today, young babies, and children are held in Gaza. This is beyond imagination. A living nightmare," Cohen said. "Mr. Secretary-General, in what world do you live? Definitely, this is not our world."
The U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, also chimed in, calling for action and condemnation of the violence. He recognized the right of any nation to defend itself and urged member states to prevent the conflict from spreading.
Erdan continued to criticize Guterres, calling for his immediate resignation for his failure to condemn the terrorist attacks fully. "You, Mr. Secretary-General, have lost all morality and impartiality because when you say those terrible words that these heinous attacks did not happen in a vacuum, you are tolerating terrorism," Erdan stated at a press conference. "By tolerating terrorism, you are justifying terrorism."
Erdan's strong words reflect the pain and frustration of the Israeli people, who are living under constant threat from terrorist organizations like Hamas. This latest escalation of violence is a frequent reminder of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, which remains unresolved.
At this point, the U.N. is seen as failing to uphold its mission of preventing atrocities, with the Secretary-General's remarks causing further harm and division. Erdan's demand for Guterres' resignation highlights the severity of the situation and the need for accountability and unbiased perspectives in resolving this long-standing conflict.