Israel Declares U.N. Chief Guterres ‘Persona Non Grata’ Over Iran Missile Response

In an unprecedented diplomatic rebuke, Israel has barred U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres from entering the country, accusing him of failing to condemn Iran's recent missile attack on Israel. The decision, announced by Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz on Wednesday, escalates tensions between Israel and the U.N. amid the ongoing conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon.

"I have declared U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres persona non grata in Israel and banned him from entering the country," Katz said in a statement. "Anyone who cannot unequivocally condemn Iran's heinous attack on Israel, as almost every country in the world has done, does not deserve to step foot on Israeli soil."

The move came after Guterres issued a brief statement on Tuesday calling for de-escalation in the Middle East, following Iran’s launch of over 180 ballistic missiles at Israel. While many of the missiles were intercepted by Israel’s defense systems, several managed to breach the defenses. There were no reported casualties, but Israeli officials expressed outrage that the U.N. chief did not explicitly condemn Iran for the attack.

Katz sharply criticized Guterres for what he described as a failure to stand against Iran’s aggression. He also accused the U.N. leader of ignoring atrocities committed by groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, who have been involved in escalating violence with Israel.

“This is a Secretary-General who has yet to denounce the massacre and sexual atrocities committed by Hamas on October 7, nor has he led efforts to label them as a terrorist organization,” Katz said. “By offering tacit backing to terrorists, rapists, and murderers from Hamas, Hezbollah, and now Iran—the mothership of global terror—Guterres will be remembered as a stain on the history of the U.N.”

Katz concluded by affirming Israel’s resolve to protect its citizens and national dignity, with or without the support of the U.N. "Israel will continue to defend itself, regardless of Guterres' stance," he added.

The decision marks a significant escalation in Israel’s strained relationship with the U.N., as Israel demands stronger international condemnation of Iran and its proxies amid the ongoing regional conflict.