Israel has ceased all contact with UN Secretary-General António Guterres after the organization placed the country on a blacklist [1].
This diplomatic rupture signals a severe breakdown in relations between Israel and the UN leadership. The move follows accusations that Israel used sexual violence as a weapon, a claim that has triggered a high-profile confrontation at the UN headquarters in New York City [2].
Danny Danon, Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations, said that the Israeli mission will no longer have contact with Guterres [3]. The decision followed a televised shouting match between Danon and UN officials. During the exchange, an unnamed UN representative said, "Listen, I won’t walk out" [4].
The dispute centers on a UN blacklist that groups Israel with Hamas, ISIS, and other terrorist organizations [5]. The list identifies entities allegedly employing sexual-violence tactics [5]. Israel has rejected these allegations, calling the inclusion of the state alongside such groups a lie [6].
"We are done with this UN Secretary-General," Danon said. "Guterres has put Israel on the same blacklist along with Hamas, ISIS, and the most depraved terrorist organisations in the world. This is a moral disgrace" [5].
Reports on the extent of the freeze vary. Some sources state the mission will have no contact with the Secretary-General [3], while others describe the mission as being "done with" the leader without specifying a total communication blackout [4]. The blacklist includes three primary entities—Israel, Hamas, and ISIS—grouped together based on the alleged tactics [5].
“"This is a moral disgrace."”
The decision to freeze ties with the Secretary-General represents a significant escalation in Israel's friction with the United Nations. By equating a sovereign state with designated terrorist organizations like ISIS and Hamas on a blacklist, the UN has touched upon a core tenet of Israeli national legitimacy. This diplomatic freeze likely complicates the UN's ability to mediate conflicts or coordinate humanitarian efforts in regions where Israeli cooperation is essential.
