United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has come under fire for his response to the murders of one American and five Israeli citizens by the Hamas terrorist group in Gaza. The hostages, including Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, were found dead in the tunnel system below Rafah city, with reports indicating they were murdered between Thursday and Friday morning. Guterres expressed his condolences and called for the unconditional release of all hostages, but faced criticism for failing to explicitly condemn Hamas for the killings.
Former Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan accused Guterres of having “Israeli blood on his hands” and criticized him for not taking more significant action to help the hostages. He argued that Guterres should have demanded visits from the Red Cross, condemned Hamas, and held them accountable for their actions. Erdan also accused Guterres of criticizing Israel while failing to condemn the actions of terrorist groups like Hamas, suggesting a bias in his handling of the situation.
Anne Bayefsky, director of the Touro Institute on Human Rights and the Holocaust, also criticized Guterres for not explicitly naming Hamas as the perpetrators of the murders. She accused the United Nations of denying Israel’s right to self-defense and promoting violence against the Israeli people. Bayefsky argued that the U.N.’s failure to condemn Hamas and its actions contributed to the ongoing conflict in the region and demonstrated a lack of accountability on the part of the international organization.
The controversy surrounding Guterres’ response to the Hamas killings is not the first time he has been accused of bias against Israel. In the past, he has faced criticism for suggesting that Israel was to blame for Hamas’ actions and for not condemning terrorist attacks against Israeli citizens. Critics have pointed to a pattern of anti-Israel sentiment within certain U.N. agencies and have accused the organization of showing sympathy towards Hamas and other terrorist groups.
Hillel Neuer, executive director of UN Watch, joined the chorus of voices criticizing Guterres for failing to condemn Hamas for the murders of the six hostages. He questioned why the Secretary-General was unwilling to name the perpetrators and called for a more robust response to acts of terrorism. Neuer’s comments highlighted the frustration felt by many who believe that the U.N. should take a stronger stance against terrorist organizations like Hamas, which are responsible for acts of violence and human rights abuses.
Overall, the criticism directed at Guterres and the United Nations reflects broader concerns about the organization’s handling of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its failure to hold terrorist groups accountable for their actions. The lack of condemnation for Hamas’ killings and the perceived bias against Israel have fueled skepticism about the U.N.’s ability to address complex political issues in a fair and impartial manner. As the conflict in the region continues to escalate, calls for greater transparency, accountability, and condemnation of violence remain essential components of the international community’s efforts to promote peace and security in the Middle East.
