Israel has been clashing with the United Nations, as the Israeli Foreign Ministry has revoked the residence visa of Lynn Hastings, the UN's Humanitarian Coordinator, for addressing the challenges faced by Palestinians in Gaza.
Eli Cohen, Israeli foreign minister said: “Someone who did not condemn Hamas for the brutal massacre of 1,200 Israelis … but instead condemns Israel, a democratic country that protects its citizens, cannot serve in the UN and cannot enter Israel!”
Meanwhile, Hastings has responded saying the conditions required to deliver aid to the people of Gaza do not exist.
She also warned that “If possible, an even more hellish scenario is about to unfold, one in which humanitarian operations may not be able to respond.”
She was referring to the renewal of Israel’s bombardment on Gaza following the end of a temporary truce deal.
Earlier, Israel accused UN’s chief Guterres for “supporting Hamas” stating that the chief Guterres said Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7 did not happen “in a vacuum” as the Palestinians have been “subjected to 56 years of suffocating occupation”
In this response, Israel asked the UN chief to resign over the statement and threatened to refuse visas to UN officials.
Then, recently on 14-Nov, Israel’s foreign minister Eli Cohen said that Guterres was not fit to lead the UN since he had not done enough to condemn Hamas.
At least 130 UNRWA (United Nations Relief Working Agency) staff have been killed and 47 UNRWA buildings have been damaged In Israeli attacks.