Hours after Israel demanded the resignation of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for his “Hamas attack did not happen in a vacuum” remark, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned Israel’s call for the UN chief’s resignation, describing it as an “unprovoked attack”.
In a post on X, the Palestinian ministry described Israel’s position as an “extension” of its “disrespect and lack of commitment” to the United Nations, its Charter, and UN resolutions regarding Palestine.
On Tuesday, Guterres alleged violations of international law in Gaza and urged an immediate ceasefire as Israel pounds the Palestinian territory in response to Hamas attacks.
Opening the session, Guterres said there was no excuse for the “appalling” violence by Hamas militants on 7 October but also warned against “collective punishment” of the Palestinians.
Israel’s UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan told reporters earlier: “I think that the Secretary General must resign,” after Guterres delivered a speech saying there had been “clear violations of international humanitarian law” in Gaza.
“I am deeply concerned about the clear violations of international humanitarian law that we are witnessing in Gaza. Let me be clear: No party to an armed conflict is above international humanitarian law,” Guterres said, without explicitly naming Israel.
Guterres also said that the Hamas attacks “did not happen in a vacuum” as the Palestinians have been “subjected to 56 years of suffocating occupation.”
His remarks infuriated Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen who, pointing his finger at Guterres and raising his voice, recounted graphic accounts of civilians including young children killed in the deadliest single attack in Israeli history.
“Mr Secretary-General, in what world do you live?” Cohen said.
Rejecting tying the violence to the occupation, Cohen said Israel gave Gaza to the Palestinians “to the last millimeter” with its withdrawal in 2005.
Israel shortly afterward imposed a blockade of the impoverished territory, in place ever since, after Hamas took power, and it still occupies the West Bank.
Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, called on Guterres to resign – writing on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the UN chief has “expressed an understanding for terrorism and murder.”
