Title: UN Secretary-General and Israel’s Ambassador Clash Over Alleged Excessive Force in Jenin
Subtitle: Dispute unfolds between UN Secretary-General and Israeli Ambassador following accusations of excessive force used during counter-terror operation
Date: [Current Date]
NEW YORK — UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has refused to retract his accusation that Israeli forces used excessive force during a recent counter-terror operation in Jenin, despite demands from Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, for a retraction and a condemnation of Palestinian terrorism.
Guterres’s condemnation, made during a press briefing on Thursday, marked a rare direct criticism of Israel from the secretary-general, sparking an open dispute between the two parties. Erdan strongly condemned Guterres’s statement as “shameful” and called for a retraction, while also urging Guterres to condemn Palestinian terrorism.
In response to Erdan’s demands during a press briefing on Friday, a spokesperson for Guterres said, “I don’t really have any response.” The spokesperson affirmed that Guterres stands by his views and declined to address the war crimes allegations against Israel, suggesting that competent judicial bodies should make such decisions.
Meanwhile, the UN Security Council received an update on the Jenin operation from Lynn Hastings, the UN’s humanitarian coordinator for the Palestinians. Hastings reported significant infrastructure damage in the densely populated Jenin refugee camp, with sections of the city left without water or sewage services. She urged UN member states to provide funding for humanitarian support on the ground.
Erdan had sent a letter to the Security Council and Guterres prior to the briefing, highlighting recent terror attacks originating from Jenin and emphasizing that terrorist groups in the area utilize civilian infrastructure for their operations. Erdan pointed out that Israeli troops had discovered a 300-meter-long terror tunnel under a mosque in Jenin used for weapons storage. He called on the international community and the Security Council to condemn Palestinian terror attacks and hold the Palestinian leadership accountable.
The Israeli operation in Jenin lasted for two days in response to a series of deadly terror attacks, many of which were traced back to the Jenin area. The IDF claimed that all 12 Palestinian fatalities were combatants, with some deaths claimed by terror groups, while acknowledging that non-combatants were among the injured. One Israeli soldier was also killed during the operation.
Guterres expressed his deep concern over the Jenin operation, condemning all acts of violence against civilians. When asked if his condemnation applies to both sides, Guterres affirmed that it applies to any excessive use of force, pointing out that Israeli forces had used excessive force in this situation. He blamed Israel for disruptions to basic services, including water and electricity, and accused Israel of blocking access to medical care.
In response, Erdan strongly criticized Guterres’s statements as “shameful, farfetched, and completely detached from reality”. Erdan accused Guterres of disregarding Palestinian terror and failing to condemn the murder of innocent civilians. Erdan demanded a retraction of Guterres’s comments and urged him to condemn Palestinian terrorism and incitement.
Francesca Albanese, the UN’s special rapporteur for the Palestinians, also accused Israel of committing war crimes in Jenin. However, Albanese has a history of antisemitism and incendiary rhetoric against Israel, raising doubts about the objectivity of her accusations.
Israel has consistently raised concerns about bias within the UN General Assembly and Human Rights Council, accusing these organizations of being disproportionately focused on Israel. Instances of antisemitism and one-sided condemnations against Israel have further fueled these concerns. A UN conference addressing antisemitism, initially scheduled for last month, has been postponed until September.
The clash between Guterres and Erdan underscores the ongoing tensions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the complex nature of addressing allegations of excessive force and war crimes in a highly politicized environment.
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