GENEVA:
Israel’s international minister stated on Tuesday that United Nations Secretary-Basic Antonio Guterres was not match to move the worldwide physique, saying he had not performed sufficient to sentence Palestinian group Hamas and was too near Iran.
His feedback, made at a press convention contained in the UN constructing in Geneva, characterize an intensification of Israel’s criticism of the UN in the identical week that the latter mourned the killing of greater than 100 of its employees in Gaza.
“Guterres doesn’t should be the top of the United Nations,” Israeli Overseas Minister Eli Cohen stated.
Cohen was assembly in Geneva with the World Well being Group and Worldwide Committee of the Pink Cross (ICRC) alongside households of Israeli hostages.
“I believe that Guterres like all of the free nations ought to say clearly and loudly: free Gaza from Hamas. Everybody stated Hamas is worse than ISIS. Why can he not say it?” he stated.
A spokesperson for the United Nations in New York didn’t instantly present a remark.
Learn additionally: UN observes minute’s silence for 101 employees killed in Gaza
Guterres has beforehand stated there was one thing “unsuitable” with Israel’s navy operation which has killed greater than 11,000 thus far in retaliation for assaults by Hamas on Oct. 7 which killed 1,200 folks. An extra 240 folks have been seized from Israel, together with infants, the injured and the aged.
Cohen, who met with ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric earlier on Tuesday, stated he anticipated the impartial physique to do extra to achieve entry to the hostages.
“I believe that the minimal is the Pink Cross will meet the hostages; the minimal is that they obtain a proof of life; and the minimal (is) that they may switch the drugs to the hostages who’re needing it,” he stated.
Spoljaric stated the UN was making an attempt to achieve entry, however stated it first wanted agreements in place.
“Please know that the ICRC can not drive its method in to the place hostages are held,” she stated.
Well being Minister Uriel Menachem Buso stated that he would current proof to WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in a while Tuesday that Hamas is utilizing hospitals for navy functions. Hamas denies its fighters are current.