Israel bans UN chief Guterres from entering the country

Israel declared the United Nations chief “undesirable” Wednesday, prohibiting him from entering the country.

“I decided today to declare U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres an undesirable personality in Israel and to ban his entry into Israel,” Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz announced on social media.

Guterres failed to “unequivocally condemn Iran’s criminal attack on Israel” on Tuesday, Katz said, and as a result “does not deserve to set foot on Israel’s soil.”

Guterres issued a short statement Tuesday condemning the “broadening of the Middle East conflict” and calling for a cease-fire but made no direct mention of Iran bombarding Israel with missiles.

Barring the U.N. boss from Israel marks a major escalation of the long-running feud between Israel and Guterres. Guterres prompted an angry reaction from Israel when he said that Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack “did not happen in a vacuum,” and has repeatedly denounced the Israeli military’s killings of civilians in Gaza.

Katz said, “Israel will continue to protect its citizens and maintain its position and national honor with or without António Guterres.”

Guterres’ spokesperson declined to offer immediate comment to POLITICO.

Nahal Toosi contributed to this report.