Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz criticized the United Nations on Saturday, alleging that the organization had transformed into an “anti-Israeli body” under the leadership of Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Katz’s remarks came after Guterres called for a ceasefire during a visit to the border of Gaza.
Amid growing international concern over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, exacerbated by the conflict between Israel and Hamas militants, relations between Israel and the United Nations have further deteriorated.
In a statement on the social media platform X, Katz accused Guterres of contributing to the anti-Semitic sentiment and anti-Israeli stance of the UN.
He specifically pointed to Guterres’s recent visit to the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing, where he reportedly blamed Israel for the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Katz countered this assertion, alleging that Hamas militants are responsible for the crisis and accusing them of diverting aid for their own purposes.
Moreover, Katz criticized Guterres for not explicitly calling for the immediate and unconditional release of all Israeli hostages held by militants in Gaza.
However, during his visit to Rafah, Guterres emphasized the importance of releasing all hostages, aligning with the spirit of compassion during Ramadan.