Escalating Israel-UN Dispute: Secretary General Acknowledges Hamas Attacks in Context

Israel and the United Nations are currently embroiled in a heated diplomatic dispute. Israeli officials are demanding the immediate resignation of Secretary General Antonio Guterres following his assertion that the October 7 attacks by Hamas on Israel were not isolated incidents. During a Security Council meeting, Guterres proposed a humanitarian ceasefire on Tuesday due to the escalating crisis in Gaza. He highlighted the presence of blatant breaches of international humanitarian law before the Security Council.

He described the October 7 massacre and abduction by Hamas as "shocking" and stated that "there is no justification for deliberately killing, injuring, and kidnapping civilians, or for launching rockets at civilian targets."

Guterres emphasized that it is crucial to acknowledge that Hamas' attacks did not occur without cause. He pointed out that the Palestinian people have endured 56 years of oppressive occupation, witnessing their land being taken over by settlements and plagued by violence. Their economy has been stifled, their people displaced, and their homes destroyed.

"But the Palestinian people's grievances do not condone the abhorrent attacks carried out by Hamas. Additionally, these abhorrent attacks do not warrant the collective punishment imposed on the Palestinian population. Excellencies, it is essential to remember that even during times of war, rules must be followed," he emphasized.

Palestinian children receive food from a United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) centre in Gaza on Tuesday.

Majdi Fathi/NurPhoto/AP

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen was furious at the remarks made by Guterres in the chamber. Cohen expressed his disbelief, stating that Guterres seemed disconnected from reality. Taking to social media afterwards, Cohen emphasized that following the October 7th tragedy, there was no room for a fair viewpoint. Cohen strongly asserted that Hamas should be completely eradicated.

Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, demanded the immediate resignation of Guterres, accusing him of sympathizing with terrorism and murder. Additionally, Erdan announced that Israel would deny visas to UN officials, citing the rejection of Martin Griffiths' application for the position of UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator as an example.

"Its time we teach them a lesson," added Erdan.

An aid truck arrives at a UN storage facility as the conflict between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas continues, in the central Gaza Strip October 21, 2023.

Mohammed Salem/Reuters

UN warns that Gaza aid operations will be halted by the end of Wednesday due to fuel shortages. The ongoing disagreement reveals the underlying tensions surrounding the calls for a ceasefire from certain international observers, highlighting the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza.

The principal United Nations agency operating in Gaza will be compelled to suspend its operations by Wednesday evening due to insufficient fuel. The region has been subjected to days of airstrikes and a nearly complete blockade as a consequence of the Hamas attacks. Attempts within the UN to support a ceasefire have been unsuccessful thus far, with the draft resolution proposed by Brazil being vetoed by the US last week.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken suggested the consideration of "humanitarian pauses" to facilitate the delivery of aid to civilians in Gaza. However, he notably refrained from using the term "ceasefire." On the other hand, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby dismissed ceasefire appeals by stating that Hamas must first release hostages held in Gaza. In the midst of this, the World Health Organization emphasized on Tuesday the urgent need for a ceasefire, as it is currently unable to provide crucial fuel and life-saving health supplies to key hospitals in northern Gaza due to a lack of security guarantees. Additionally, WHO reported that six hospitals in Gaza have been compelled to close down due to insufficient fuel supplies.

CNNs Lianne Kolirin, Mariya Knight, Richard Roth and Helen Regan contributed reporting