UN criticises Israel's travel ban on secretary-general as political attack

The United Nations spokesperson Stephane Dujarric has condemned Israel's decision to impose a travel ban on Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, describing it as a "political statement" and the latest in a series of attacks by the Israeli government on UN personnel.

Dujarric emphasised that Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz's designation of Guterres as "persona non grata" was part of a broader pattern of hostility.

Katz accused Guterres of showing bias against Israel, alleging that he had not condemned Hamas for its 7 October attacks on southern Israel.

Dujarric rejected this claim, reiterating that Guterres had condemned the Hamas attacks on multiple occasions and pointed out that the UN continues to maintain operational and other levels of cooperation with Israel.