THE African Union, alongside a coalition of 104 UN member states, has strongly condemned Israel’s decision to declare UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as ‘persona non grata.’ This controversial move prevents Guterres from entering Israel, following his call for an immediate de-escalation of tensions in the Middle East.
In a joint statement issued on Friday, the coalition of nations, including Turkey, criticised Israeli Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz’s decision, arguing that labelling Guterres as ‘unwelcome’ undermines the UN’s mission and authority in conflict resolution.
Impact on Middle East peace efforts
The statement warned that Israel’s actions could further complicate efforts to resolve the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, jeopardising progress towards a two-state solution. ‘In the Middle East, this could further delay an end to all hostilities and the establishment of a credible path towards the two-state solution, with the State of Palestine and Israel living side by side in peace and security, in accordance with the relevant United Nations resolutions,’ the statement read.
The coalition reaffirmed its strong support for Guterres, praising his commitment to peace and international law, particularly regarding respect for international humanitarian principles in the Middle East.
Call for UN leadership respect
The 104 nations urged respect for the UN’s leadership and its crucial role in fostering peace. They called on all parties to avoid actions that could weaken the organisation’s role in resolving conflicts. ‘We call upon all parties to avoid actions that could weaken the critical role of the United Nations in conflict resolution and, instead, to support initiatives that contribute to a peaceful and lasting solution of the crisis in the Middle East,’ the statement added.
Israel’s accusation and Guterres’ response
Israel’s decision to bar Guterres comes after he called for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East but did not explicitly name Iran in his condemnation of recent rocket attacks. Israeli officials accused Guterres of failing to mention Tehran’s alleged involvement in the violence.
While Guterres condemned the escalation of violence, his omission of direct criticism of Iran has been a point of contention for Israel, leading to the decision to declare him ‘persona non grata.’ Despite this, the UN Secretary-General has maintained his call for peace and a de-escalation of hostilities in the region.
