Israel denies visas to UN officials after Guterres says Hamas attack ‘didn’t happen in a vacuum’

Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, said that Israel will be denying visas to UN officials after a comment made by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, where he said “it is important to also recognise the attacks by Hamas did not happen in a vacuum".

The comments by Guterres were said in a UN Security Council meeting. 

Erdan told the Israeli Army Radio that “due to his remarks, we will refuse to issue visas to UN representatives".

“We have already refused a visa for Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths,” Erdan said. “The time has come to teach them a lesson."