United Nations General Secretary Guterres under fire from Danon for alleged silence on the Syria massacre, while allegedly focusing on Israel instead.
In recent times, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has faced criticism from Israeli officials for his consistent critique of Israel's counterterrorism operations, particularly against Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.
Guterres' criticisms have focused on humanitarian concerns, alleging violations of international law, and the humanitarian consequences of military actions. He has condemned the restricting of aid deliveries in Gaza, the high number of civilian deaths and injuries, and measures that amount to collective punishment of the civilian population.
Israel, and particularly its Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, has vigorously criticized Guterres for these statements, viewing them as unbalanced and biased. Israeli Foreign Ministry officials, including spokesperson Oren Marmorstein, have accused Guterres of "moral bankruptcy" for not sufficiently acknowledging Hamas's role in rejecting ceasefire proposals and for allegedly ignoring Hamas's exploitation of aid to rebuild military capabilities.
Israeli officials argue that Guterres and the UN have remained silent on Syrian government atrocities against the Druze, while being quick to criticize Israel’s actions. They see this selective attention as evidence of bias that undermines the UN’s credibility.
The friction between Guterres and Israeli representatives like Danny Danon centers on three main issues: perceived lack of impartiality, humanitarian vs. security priorities, and diplomatic language. Israel believes the UN and Guterres disproportionately focus on Israeli actions while downplaying or ignoring provocations and violations by Hamas and other groups.
The escalation of violence in Syria, following the Syrian military's massacre of the Druze population in southern Syria, has further fuelled tensions. The IDF carried out strikes on the Syrian regime's central headquarters and the presidential palace in Damascus on Wednesday, prompting a statement of alarm from Guterres, who unequivocally condemned all violence against civilians.
An international summit on Palestinian state is scheduled to take place in September. Despite Guterres' criticisms, Israel continues to assert its right to self-defense against terrorism and accuses Hamas of endangering civilians by operating within civilian areas.
The ongoing controversy reflects deeper disagreements over the interpretation of events, the responsibilities of occupying powers, and the appropriate international response to terrorism and civilian suffering in the region.
- The ongoing criticism from Israeli officials towards UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres extends to his stance on war-and-conflicts, as they accuse him of bias in his focus on humanitarian concerns, particularly in Israel's counterterrorism operations against Hamas.
- On the international stage, the debate between Guterres and Israeli representatives such as Danny Danon encompasses politics, with the UN and Guterres being accused of prioritizing humanitarian issues over security concerns, a perceived imbalance that Israel sees as evidence of partiality.
