Israel to declare UN chief persona non grata

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz has decided to declare UN Secretary-General António Guterres persona non grata, effectively banning him from entering the country.  

This decision follows Guterres' response to Iran's ballistic missile attack on Israel, which Katz strongly criticized. According to Israeli newspaper Haaretz, Katz accused Guterres of failing to unequivocally condemn Iran's actions.  

"Anyone who cannot unequivocally condemn Iran's heinous attack on Israel does not deserve to step foot on Israeli soil," Katz stated. He further described Guterres as "an anti-Israel Secretary-General who lends support to terrorists, rapists, and murderers."  

After the Iranian attack, Guterres had posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), saying: "I condemn the broadening of the Middle East conflict with escalation after escalation. This must stop. We absolutely need a ceasefire."