UN Secretary General rejects accusations of justifying Hamas attack on Israel

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he did not justify the attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on Israel, calling such accusations a lie.

“I am shocked by the distortions contained in some of my statements… as if I were justifying Hamas’ terrorist acts. It’s a lie. It was the other way around,” he said (quote according to Reuters).

On October 24, at the UN Security Council, Guterres called for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the release of hostages, as well as an end to “attacks on civilians, homes and hospitals” and to ensure the continued delivery of humanitarian aid. He condemned the attack of the Palestinian group Hamas on Israel, noting that the actions of the militants cannot be a reason “for collective punishment of the Palestinian people.”

According to the UN Secretary General, the Hamas attack did not happen out of nowhere. He recalled that the Palestinians “lived under a suffocating occupation” for 56 years. At the same time, the resentment of the Palestinian people cannot justify Hamas’ attacks, the secretary general added. Guterres emphasized that only the coexistence of two states can ensure peace and stability in the Middle East.

Israel’s representative to the UN, Gilad Erdan, called Guterres’ speech “shocking”, calling on the Secretary General to resign immediately, and Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen refused a meeting with Guterres, saying that Hamas must first be destroyed.

On the morning of October 7, the Palestinian group Hamas began military operations against Israel. The IDF responded by launching Operation Iron Swords, striking hundreds of Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli government announced that the country had entered a state of war. As a result of the fighting, according to the latest data, about 6,500 people were killed, including more than 5,000 from the Gaza Strip. During the fighting, 23 Russian citizens were killed and four were missing.

Russian President Vladimir Putin previously said that Israel was subjected to an unprecedented brutal attack from Hamas and has the right to protection. He expressed hope for the end of the conflict and negotiations between the parties. The president has also repeatedly called for the creation of an independent Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital.