This latest flashpoint heightened tensions between the U.N. and Israel that have escalated since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched his military offensive in Gaza in October last year. The U.N. has repeatedly called out Israel’s alleged human rights violations and targeting of civilians in its campaign.
The head of U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres’ office informed Israel’s envoy at the U.N., Gilad Erdan, that his country would be added to the list, U.N. spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told reporters.
Erdan reacted with outrage, posting a video on X of his angry monologue over the phone with Guterres’ chief of staff, who was supposedly on the other side of the line.
“The only one who is blacklisted today is the secretary-general whose decisions since the war started and even before are rewarding terrorists and incentivizing them to use children for terror acts,” said Erdan.
