United Nations (UN) workers will no longer have an automatic visa to enter Israel. This was reported by the Jewish state on Tuesday, in the midst of growing tensions with the international body led by Antonio Guterres, which has condemned Benjamin Netanyahu's government on many occasions.
As recently reported by Voz Media, the UN has condemned Israel a total of 14 times in 2023, especially after the war against Hamas began on Oct. 7. The figure contrasts with the low or non-existent number of such remarks regarding countries such as Iran, North Korea and Venezuela. In turn, the international organization repeatedly asked the Jewish state to change its position against the aforementioned terrorist group.
With this in mind, Israel will study visa applications submitted by the UN on a "case by case" basis. The announcement came from Eylon Levy, spokesperson for the Israeli government, who assured that his country will stop working with "those cooperate with Hamas’s terror regime’s propaganda machine."
"International officials have been deflecting blame onto Israel to cover up for the fact that they are covering up for Hamas in failing to condemn Hamas for hijacking aid and failing to condemn it for waging war out of hospitals," he added, also adding that Israel is urging its allies to follow its example and "defend basic integrity."
The United Nations has publicly reiterated the need to increase humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip and promote a ceasefire, at the same time condemning the Israeli response to the attacks by the Jahidist group. For example, in mid-December, the UN General Assembly approved a resolution expressly calling for a ceasefire, a proposal that was only rejected by Austria, the Czech Republic, Guatemala, Liberia, Micronesia, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, the United States and Israel.
Gilad Erdan, Israeli ambassador to the UN, criticized the vote and its rhetorical consequences at the time. "There are no war crimes more heinous than the atrocities Hamas committed. And those that support this resolution are giving the terrorists a free pass," he said.
Netanyahu has no intention of changing his strategy
Israel's prime minister recently traveled to the Gaza Strip to visit and speak with his soldiers. During his speech, he distanced himself from the voices that ask him to change course. "We are expanding the fight in the coming days, and this will be a long battle and it is not close to being over," he stated.
"Today with our heroic fighters on the battlefield of the Gaza Strip. I told them two things: first: we will do everything possible to maintain your safety and your life. Second: we do not stop and we will not stop fighting. The war continues until the end. Until Hamas is finished, nothing less than that," he added hours later on X, formerly known as Twitter.
