Israel bars entry of UN chief

Israel has barred United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres from entering the country, accusing him of being biased against Israel.

Israeli foreign minister Israel Katz declared Guterres “persona non grata” and said the UN chief would be prevented from entering Israel for failing to “unequivocally” condemn Iran’s missile attack on Israel.

Foreign minister Israel Katz announced on social media that he has declared Guterres a “persona non grata” in Israel. He said: “Today, I have declared UN Secretary-General @antonioguterres persona non grata in Israel and banned him from entering the country.”

“Anyone who cannot unequivocally condemn Iran’s heinous attack on Israel, as almost every country in the world has done, does not deserve to step foot on Israeli soil.”

After Iran launched almost 200 missiles targeting Israel, UN chief Antonio Guterres condemned the “broadening of the Middle East conflict, with escalation after escalation.” He added, “This must stop.  We absolutely need a ceasefire” without referring to Iran firing ballistic missiles towards Israel.

Earlier, on October 1, Iran launched several ballistic missiles targeting Israel as the Middle-East conflict worsens.

The Israeli civilians had rushed to bomb shelters after sirens went off in the entire country following the large-scale ballistic missile launched by Iran.