Israel has announced the cessation of engagement with UN Secretary-General António Guterres following the country's inclusion in the United Nations' annual report on sexual violence in conflict. This was reported by Bloomberg, according to UNN.
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Israel's Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, stated that the decision was a reaction to the country's inclusion on the so-called blacklist.
"We are done with this Secretary-General,"
He added that Israel is freezing relations specifically with Guterres' office, although it remains a member of the UN and will continue to cooperate with individual structures of the organization.
In response, the UN emphasized that they remain open to further dialogue.
"The Secretary-General's door is figuratively and literally open to representatives of the Israeli mission,"
According to him, the organization seeks to maintain communication with all member states.
Tensions between Israel and the UN are escalating
The Israeli side called the UN decision politically motivated. The country's Foreign Ministry stated that it is "another example of the UN's long-standing, institutionalized hostility toward Israel." Meanwhile, the UN report noted that there is "credible information" regarding violations by Israeli security forces against Palestinians in detention facilities.
Experts note that Israel's move is primarily symbolic in nature, but indicates a further escalation of relations between Tel Aviv and the UN amid the war in Gaza.
"This decision is another crack in the already broken relationship between the UN and the Israeli government,"