United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has finally condemned the attacks on Israel by Iran.
This reaction comes after Israel Katz, Israeli foreign minister, announced a ban preventing Guterres, from entering the country.
Guterres failed to “unequivocally condemn Iran’s criminal attack on Israel, and as a result does not deserve to set foot on Israel’s soil”, Katz said on Tuesday.
Speaking to the UN Security Council Guterres called for an end to the cycle of violence, stating that each escalation leads to further conflict and civilian casualties.He stressed the need to recognize the severe impact of this conflict on ordinary people and urged for a halt to the cycle of retaliation, warning that time is running out for a peaceful resolution.
He said:
“Yesterday, Iran launched approximately 200 ballistic missiles towards Israel.
“It stated it was in response to the killings of Hassan Nasrallah and the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corp commander Abbas Nilforoushan last week — as well as that of the Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July.
“Millions of people across Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory were forced to seek shelter.
“One person was killed from the Iranian strikes – a Palestinian in the occupied West Bank.
“As I did in relation to the Iranian attack in April — and as should have been obvious yesterday in the context of the condemnation I expressed — I again strongly condemn yesterday’s massive missile attack by Iran on Israel.
“These attacks paradoxically do nothing to support the cause of the Palestinian people or reduce their suffering.
“It is high time for a cessation of hostilities in Lebanon, real action towards full implementation of Security Council resolutions 1559 and 1701, paving the way for diplomatic efforts for sustainable peace.
“It is high time to stop the sickening cycle of escalation after escalation that is leading the people of the Middle East straight over the cliff.
“Each escalation has served as a pretext for the next.
“We must never lose sight of the tremendous toll that this growing conflict is taking on civilians.
“We cannot look away from systematic violations of international humanitarian law.
“This deadly cycle of tit-for-tat violence must stop. Time is running out. Thank you.”