Israel's Ban on UNSG António Guterres: Implications and Global Reactions

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in News?
• Why did Israel declare UNSG Persona Non Grata?
• Unprecedented Nature of Israel’s Ban of UNSG
• History to Israel-UN tensions
• Global Reactions to Israel’s Ban on UNSG

Why in News?

• Recently, Israel had banned United Nations Secretary- General (UNSG) António Guterres from entering the country. Israel accused him of “backing” Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Iran.

Why did Israel declare UNSG Persona Non Grata?

• Reason for Declaration
  • Israeli Foreign Minister declared United Nations Secretary-General (UNSG) António Guterres as persona non grata (PNG), barring him from setting foot in Israel. 
  • This decision was taken due to the UNSG’s failure to "unequivocally condemn" Iran’s missile strikes on Israel.
• Accusation of Silence on Previous Hamas Attack
  • Israelalso criticized Guterres for not condemning a previous attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of about 1,200 Israelis and the taking of 250 hostages.
• UNSG's Previous Statements
  • Contrary to Israel's claims, Mr. Guterres and UN bodies have condemned the Hamas attack multiple times. 
  • In April, the UNSG condemned the use of "sexual violence, torture, and kidnapping of civilians," labeling the atrocities by Hamas as unjustifiable.
• Guterres’ Response to Recent Escalations
  • In the latest conflict escalation, including Israeli strikes on Lebanon and Iran’s launch of 200 missiles on Israeli bases, Guterres called for a ceasefire and condemned the broadening of the conflict but did not name Israel or Iran specifically.
• UNSG's Clarification
  • Following Israel's declaration of the PNG status, Guterres issued a clarification strongly condemning the "massive missile attack by Iran on Israel." 
  • Despite this, Israel has not revoked the ban.

Unprecedented Nature of Israel’s Ban of UNSG

• Israel’s ban on UNSG António Guterres is unprecedented. 
• Analysts say that the closest a similar action occurred was in 1950 when the USSR accused UNSG Trygve Lie of bias during the Korean crisis and threatened to veto his re-election. 
  • Later, the U.S. had banned former UNSG Kurt Waldheim in 1987 due to his complicity in Nazi war crimes during World War II.
  • But this happened after his term as UNSG and during his presidency of Austria.
• Citing Article 100, paragraph 2 of the UN Charter, they emphasized the importance of the UNSG for both substantive and logistical reasons.
  • This paragraph requires member states to respect the Secretary-General's independence.

History to Israel-UN tensions

• Israeli Criticism of the UN
  • Israel’s ban on Mr. Guterres is part of its broader argument that the UN is controlled by an “anti-Israel” bloc of Arab and Islamic countries. 
  • It accuses affiliated organizations like the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) of being involved with Hamas.
• Israeli Prime Minister’s Accusations
  • At the UN General Assembly, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the UN, referring to it as an “anti-Semitic swamp.” 
  • His anger stemmed from resolutions calling for a ceasefire and criticizing Israel, which were supported by a large majority of countries.
• Previous Bans on UN Officials
  • Israel has previously banned UN Special Rapporteurs and senior officials, accusing them of bias against Israel and favoring the Palestinian cause. 
  • Last year, Israel banned UN Under-Secretary General Martin Griffiths for remarks perceived as critical of Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories.

Global Reactions to Israel’s Ban on UNSG

• The day after Israel's ban on UNSG, the UN Security Council (UNSC), with the agreement of all P-5 members, issued a statement calling the decision “counterproductive,” especially amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. 
• The U.S. State Department similarly criticized the move, stating that it was “not productive” for Israel’s global standing. 
• India’s Ministry of External Affairs, while cautious not to criticize Israel too directly, dismissed the issue.
  •  India affirmed that Mr. Guterres remains the UNSG for India.

Q.1. Why did Israel declare António Guterres persona non grata?

Israel banned UNSG António Guterres due to his failure to unequivocally condemn Iran’s missile.

Q.2. How has the global community reacted to Israel's ban on the UNSG?

The UN Security Council deemed the ban "counterproductive," with the U.S. State Department stating it harmed Israel's global standing. India affirmed Guterres's role while avoiding direct criticism of Israel.

Source: What’s behind Israel’s ban on the UN chief?: Explained