Nour Odeh: Israel's move against Guterres is a slap in the face to the entire international system and an extension of a long history of diplomatic terrorism

Akram Atallah: Diplomatic terrorism directed not only against Guterres as a person, but against the largest international institution representing the entire world

Muhannad Abdul Hamid: Israel has reached the point of belittling the most important symbol of international legitimacy because it has become accustomed to escaping punishment and accountability

Dr. Dalal Erekat: Israel’s move against Guterres is an embodiment of its diplomatic terrorism against anyone who exposes its crimes

Firas Yaghi: Guterres exposed Israel and defied the usual Israeli expectations of intimidating officials of international and humanitarian organizations

Talal Okal: Israel's accusations against Guterres are not the first, and it is unlikely that it will assassinate him for fear of losing its allies

Israel's declaration of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as "persona non grata" has put the international system in a major dilemma, and an unprecedented exposure of the reality of what the international organization represents, and the credibility of the standards followed in dealing with the countries of the world. It has also revealed the true face of Israel, which has derived its "legitimacy for existence" from the United Nations, not because it has rights and land. It has also revealed the nature of Israel as a state above the law and above all considerations, as long as it derives its legitimacy for existence from the American decision-making center and its military arsenal.

Major challenges to protect those who defend justice following Guterres’ statements about the war of extermination practiced by Israel in the Gaza Strip, while Israel’s decision could represent the inauguration of a phase of moral assassination of Guterres.

In separate interviews with “I”, writers, political analysts and specialists believe that this Israeli step against the most important international symbol is a strong slap in the face to the entire international system, in light of the absence of any firm response from the international community.

They said that the Israeli decision, although it does not threaten his life, falls within the framework of a "moral execution" of the Secretary-General, as Israel practices diplomatic terrorism against anyone who opposes it, and has reached the point of disregarding international legitimacy, armed with American protection, which has increased its audacity and boldness to take such steps against prominent figures in the international community.

Israel disdains international laws and standards

Nour Odeh, a writer, political analyst and specialist in diplomatic affairs and international relations, described Israel’s behavior towards UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as a rare incident that reflects Israeli arrogance and its blatant disregard for the international system, as Israel decided to consider Guterres an “undesirable person” and prevented him from entering the country, in a move that represents Israel’s contempt for the international laws and standards to which countries are subject.

In a comparison between the actions of the United States and Israel, Odeh said that despite Washington’s hardline stances towards the Palestine Liberation Organization, including classifying it as a terrorist organization and trying to prevent its mission from entering the United Nations before the peace process, the United States was forced to respect international laws and its role as a host country, noting that Washington imposed restrictions on the Palestinian mission, but did not go so far as to break the international system as Israel does.

Awda touched on the United States' attempt to prevent the late Palestinian President Yasser Arafat from delivering a speech at the UN General Assembly headquarters after the declaration of Palestinian independence, noting that the Assembly temporarily moved its headquarters to Geneva to give Arafat the opportunity, stressing that this is the role that the United Nations must adhere to.

Deliberate US disregard for the Israeli move

Awda stressed that Israel completely ignores international laws and acts with excessive arrogance, noting that the step it took against Guterres is a slap in the face to the entire international system.

Awda pointed out that Israel does not pay attention to the entire international system, and this is a terrible thing. It is noteworthy that the US representative to the Security Council did not mention what happened with Guterres in order to express her support for the Secretary-General, which indicates that Israel is outside all calculations.

Awda believes that Israel wants the world to applaud it and turn a blind eye to its crimes, stressing that although Guterres' life is not directly threatened, especially since he is at the end of his term, and although it is now acting without restraint and committing genocide and nothing is excluded from it, what happened to Guterres represents a political slap in the face to the international system.

Awda explained that Israel had previously taken punitive measures against UN teams, before the war, and prevented those teams from entering Palestine to carry out their work.

Awda believes that Israel ignores, punishes and boycotts countries that try to defend the international system and international law that recognizes Palestine, as well as international officials who make statements and take positions according to what their consciences dictate, but Israel has reached the point of arrogance that it wants the entire world to applaud it and its crimes and no one to criticize it.

Awda wondered about the absence of any firm international response to these violations, considering that countries are going along with Israel instead of taking punitive steps against it, such as expelling it from the United Nations, which confirms the existence of a defect in the countries’ dealings with this Israeli arrogance.

Intimidation of the former ICC prosecutor

Odeh pointed out that Israel has a long history of diplomatic terrorism, including intimidation and spying on Palestinian diplomats, officials at the International Criminal Court, and even heads of state. Recently, there have been reports of Israel’s attempts to intimidate the former prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, intimidate the current prosecutor, and intimidate and spy on Palestinian diplomats responsible for the court’s file.

Awda pointed out that some countries expressed their support for Guterres during the emergency session of the Security Council, but she stressed that this support is not enough, and that there is a need to take practical diplomatic steps against Israel, including the idea of expelling Israel from the UN General Assembly, because it is a country that does not respect the Charter, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, or the United Nations organizations, including UNRWA, and is hostile to them, fights them, and kills their employees. Therefore, there are many steps that countries can take individually or collectively to confront Israel, and the coming days will be critical to whether there is the courage to take steps against Israel or not.

Awda called on the international community to take courageous steps to confront the Israeli "political rampage," considering that the continuation of these policies reflects a flaw in the way countries deal with Israel, and strengthens the position of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government.

"Moral execution" against Guterres

For his part, writer and political analyst Akram Atallah said that the Israeli attack on the person of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres comes within the framework of an organized, not spontaneous, defamation campaign against him and the United Nations in general.

Atallah pointed out that, in this context, Israel did not just accuse Guterres of being unwelcome, but also described the United Nations earlier as a terrorist and immoral organization, in reference to previous attempts to undermine the legitimacy of the international organization.

Atallah believes that these actions by Israel constitute diplomatic terrorism directed not only against the Secretary-General, but against the largest international institution representing the entire world.

Atallah said that this campaign against Guterres aims not only to tarnish Guterres' reputation but also to carry out a "moral execution" against him, by portraying him as an enemy of Israel and an anti-Semite.

Atallah stressed that Guterres cannot take another position, as he represents an international organization that protects international norms and covenants that Israel has violated, especially in the crimes committed against the Palestinians and the crimes of genocide it committed in the Gaza Strip.

Atallah also believes that there is a global failure to support Guterres and the United Nations, even on the part of the United States, which previously stopped its funding for the UNRWA and pressured countries not to vote in the UN General Assembly and Security Council in favor of issues affecting Israel.

Israel is above international law and under American protection

In turn, journalist Muhannad Abdul Hamid said that Israel's decision against Guterres is an extension of the hostile Israeli position towards international legitimacy and its symbols, and is related to placing Israel above the law with American protection and the complicity of most major countries.

Abdul Hamid pointed out that when the Israeli state escapes punishment and accountability, regardless of the violations it commits, it is logical that it will continue to violate international law, as Israel has reached the point of disregarding the most important symbol of international legitimacy, which is the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres.

According to Abdul Hamid, this was not the first time that Mr. Guterres was attacked and rebuked by Israeli officials. He was branded an anti-Semite simply because he linked the October 7 attack - the Al-Aqsa Intifada - to the Israeli policy of settlement, annexation of lands, and denial of legitimate Palestinian rights.

Abdul Hamid said: Israeli arrogance reached its peak when the Israeli delegate demanded Guterres' resignation, on charges of defending international law and the UN Charter, and now the Israeli government is banning the entry of the Secretary-General to Israel, in other words, punishing him, and the punishment is a reckless Israeli ritual that belongs to the law of the jungle and the arrogance of power.

Israel punishes international institutions and organizations

Abdel Hamid pointed out that Israel is punishing international institutions and organizations: UNESCO because it accepted Palestine’s membership, the International Court of Justice because it raised the issue of genocide, and the International Criminal Court because it will issue a warrant to bring Netanyahu and his Minister of War Galant to justice on charges of committing war crimes. Israel is punishing the Human Rights Council and Human Rights Watch, preventing its office from operating in the city of Jerusalem because of a report issued by the organization accusing Israel of committing war crimes. Israel is punishing the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and trying to prevent it from performing its humanitarian role in providing relief to the displaced whose lives are threatened.

Abdul Hamid pointed out that Israel punishes governments that object to Israeli violations, especially war crimes and genocide, or that recognize the State of Palestine and the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. The latest countries to be subjected to Israeli sanctions were Norway, Spain, South Africa, and other countries.

Abdul Hamid stressed that Israel would not have dared to undermine the role of the international organization and empty it of its human rights content, and to despise international law, without American protection, the complicity of the great powers, the policy of international hypocrisy, and dealing with double standards.

Assassination of the UN Secretary-General in 1961

Abdul Hamid added: I do not believe that his life is in danger as was the case with his predecessor in 1961, and the reason is that there is no danger threatening Israel, because the United States defends Israel while it rebels against international law and provides it with protection and helps it to escape punishment, and turns the United Nations into a disabled body as long as Israel is the accused.

Abdul Hamid believes that Israel, at this time, is punishing institutions, countries, and the Secretary-General, and tearing up the United Nations Charter in a General Assembly meeting in front of all countries and peoples. It does not need to use assassination as it did previously, and as long as the international institution has not defended its charter and the system of laws and treaties.

Abdul Hamid stressed that the American control over the international institution and paralyzing its work in everything related to holding Israel accountable is incomparably stronger than using assassination methods as happened with the former Secretary-General Hammarskjöld, and if the previous assassination is considered a terrorist act, then punishing institutions, punishing symbols and tearing up the UN Charter is the highest and most dangerous level of terrorism.

The vast majority of countries and peoples will support Guterres.

On the other hand, Abdul Hamid said that the vast majority of countries and all peoples will support Guterres against intimidation and sanctions, but positions without practical support remain incapable of changing the equation that has placed Israel above the law, and without pressure on interests, and specifically without imposing sanctions on Israel.

Abdul Hamid pointed out that the European-Israeli agreement explicitly stipulates the rejection of violations, especially settlement expansion, annexation of lands and war crimes, and sets this as a binding condition for Israel, which violates it in the worst way. The European Union turns a blind eye to the blatant Israeli violations, and the Arab-Israeli agreements - the "peace" treaties - stipulate the adoption of peace for all the peoples of the region, but Israel does not respect this and works against it, which requires a strike, freeze or pressure from the Arab countries that concluded the agreements, and at least Arab initiatives against settlements and settlers and against the violation of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the holy places, which may be followed by European initiatives and friendly countries. There is no alternative to digging an operational channel that defends rights and international law in the face of the Israeli law of the jungle.

Terrorism against all who defend justice and humanity

Dr. Dalal Erakat, Professor of Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution at the Arab American University, said: “Israel’s designation of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as ‘persona non grata’ is an embodiment of the diplomatic terrorism that Israel practices against all those who expose its crimes and document its violations of international law, and against all those who defend justice and humanity.”

Erekat stressed that this decision is not just a diplomatic escalation, but rather reflects the growing tension between Israel and the international community, and embodies Israel's inability to use legal and moral tools to confront the criticism directed at it. It is attacking a person who represents the entire international system, and some may think that this decision is a challenge to the international community, but it is a direct insult to the international system and Israel's isolation from this system due to its continued violations.

Erekat pointed out that this decision represents a direct insult to the entire international system, because it attacks an international figure representing the international community, and reflects Israel's rejection of the increasing criticism regarding the human rights violations it is committing in the Palestinian territories.

Erekat considered the Israeli move to constitute diplomatic pressure aimed at reducing the legitimacy of organizations and figures who criticize its policies, which highlights its increasing isolation within the international community.

Although this decision may not pose a direct threat to Guterres' life, Erekat warned that this step increases the risk of deteriorating diplomatic relations and opens the door to other diplomatic and political risks.

Erekat stressed that the hostile rhetoric against the Secretary-General may increase concerns about his safety, noting that any direct threat to his life will be subject to an international investigation that Israel will not allow to happen, in order to avoid consequences that may lead to its complete isolation from the international community.

Assassination of Dag Hammarskjöld

Erekat recalled the fate of former UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld, who was killed in a plane crash in 1961. He was a victim of complex geopolitical contexts in the post-World War II period, and there were theories about the intervention of certain parties in the incident of shooting down his plane.

Erekat linked this incident to the increasing incitement against Guterres, stressing that this incitement must be taken seriously and that it reminds the world of the danger of ignoring such threats.

Erekat stressed that Israel has been practicing diplomatic terrorism in an organized manner for decades, and its history is full of intimidating international officials who take positions opposing its policy in the Palestinian territories.

Erekat pointed out that the "persona non grata" decision is based on Article 9 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961, which stipulates the expulsion of diplomats if they violate local laws or commit crimes, but this decision exposes that Israel does not respect the international legal system and uses this measure as a tool of intimidation.

Erekat stressed that what is happening is an attempt by Israel to silence international voices that criticize its policies, describing this behavior as an extension of the state terrorism it practices against international officials.

Erekat stressed that this Israeli escalation represents a serious threat to the already tense relations between Israel and the United Nations, and is likely to lead to more international pressure on it, and may affect its relations with other countries that support UN resolutions regarding the Palestinian issue.

The United Nations and the international community are required to take a firm stand.

Erekat believes that the United Nations and the international community are required to take a firm stance towards these developments, including imposing sanctions on Israel or even considering the possibility of expelling it from the United Nations if it continues its practices, as it is a member state of the international organization.

Erekat stressed that isolating Israel diplomatically or imposing sanctions on it immediately has become necessary in light of its policies that ignore international treaties and agreements, and continue to practice diplomatic terrorism against the international community openly, without regard to any treaties, agreements or obligations that require it to respect the system and implement its decisions.

Erekat stressed that what is happening is a type of diplomatic terrorism, at the hands of a state that has organized terrorism for decades and has documented war crimes and a crime of genocide over the past year, as Israel is trying to silence the truth and international voices that criticize its policies, by pressuring international figures, as Israel's history in this context extends back several decades, as it has used multiple strategies to dissuade international officials from taking positions that criticize its practices in the Palestinian territories.

Israel tries to terrorize anyone who dares to criticize it

In turn, writer and political analyst Firas Yaghi said: Israel has a policy that has not changed since its founding, and it relies on working to terrorize anyone who dares to criticize it, and this is done through a direct accusation of the person and through the concept of anti-Semitism, as it directs its speech in an attempt to undermine the person and his position.

Yaghi pointed out that the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, has a clear position that Israel could not intimidate or prevent from adhering to the international law that he represents. He criticized the Hamas movement and stood against what happened on October 7, 2023, and demanded the release of the "hostages", meaning that he represented the decisions of international legitimacy in an unquestionable manner.

According to Yaghi, Guterres believes that what Israel did in its responses has greatly exceeded the concept of response, and has become an operation that contradicts all international laws, in terms of the right to a dignified life, and the right to implement United Nations resolutions and the Geneva Conventions in the event of war, and has even reached levels of ethnic cleansing.

Guterres exposed Israel and its crimes and defied all its expectations

Yaghi pointed out that Guterres exposed Israel and its crimes and violated all the usual Israeli expectations of intimidating officials of international and humanitarian organizations, and even heads of state and officials, by accusing them of being anti-Semites. This is the way to prevent any criticism of Israel, but the world and the Secretary-General of the United Nations have overcome all of that, due to the clarity of the major crime and unprecedented brutality that Israel is committing against civilians and infrastructure.

Yaghi pointed out that what also angered Guterres was the killing of dozens of UN workers and the destruction of its facilities, in addition to preventing the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees from carrying out its duties in accordance with resolutions issued by international legitimacy represented by the United Nations.

Yaghi believes that Israel’s consideration of Mr. Guterres as an “undesirable persona” indicates the extent of the damage that the Secretary-General’s position has caused to Israel’s reputation worldwide, on the one hand, and on the other hand the failure of all the pressure tools that Israel has tried to use to change Mr. Guterres’ position, indicating Israel’s inability, for the first time, through it and all its lobbies and the United States of America, to change his position or push the Secretary-General of the United Nations to remain silent, which means the inability and feeling of inability to effect any change in Mr. Guterres’ position that pushes them to take such a position.

Israel poses a real threat to Guterres' life

Yaghi saw that this step by Israel constitutes a real threat to the man because it is an indirect call to get rid of him, and indeed there are precedents, as happened to the former Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld in 1961, and Israel usually pushes towards what is called “price tag” for the person, that is, a policy of revenge, whether directly or through incitement, and in the case of Mr. Guterres there is unprecedented incitement against him, and this may push some crazy Zionist extremists or their supporters to threaten his life.

Yaghi said that the United Nations, as an institution, is well aware of the extent of the threat to Mr. Guterres’ life, due to the unprecedented incitement against him, so it has certainly taken measures in this regard.

Yaghi pointed out that the world as a whole is on one side and Israel and America are on the other side, and this means that Israel has a degree of power capable of confronting the entire world, but not to the point of attacking Mr. Guterres because America does not stand with this incitement and has not attacked his position on what Israel is doing, because it supports him behind the scenes because he and others constitute tools of pressure on Israel, to make it stop the brutality it is committing.

America supports Israel and will not abandon it

Yaghi explained this by saying that the United States and its current weak administration are unable to pressure Israel, and also support, stand by, and will not abandon Israel as a political constant that does not change with any American administration, as there is a large lobby that dominates and controls the House of Representatives (Congress) and the Senate, in addition to the economic, media, Hollywood, and even educational dominance, and we saw an example of what happened in many American universities.

Yaghi stressed that the world supports international law and Guterres represents this law, but that does not reach the point of taking international decisions that punish Israel and put an end to its boundless rampage even against those who represent this international legitimacy because of American support.

Yaghi pointed out that for the first time, Israel is unable to subjugate its allies, led by the United States of America, to stand firmly against the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Guterres. This indicates the major changes that have occurred at the global level, and the existence of changes that have revealed the truth about Israel and exposed it in a way that has made it a pariah state before public opinion, and Mr. Guterres has a clear role due to his adherence to the application of international law.

Yaghi pointed out that Guterres is in his second and final term, which ends in 2026, and this also gave him the strength to tell the truth.

Israel accuses Guterres of being a 'terrorist supporter' and 'anti-Semite'

For his part, writer and political analyst Talal Okal said: The criticisms and accusations directed by Israel and some of its allies at UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres are not the first, but have been directed at him several times since the start of the war of extermination on the Gaza Strip.

Okal pointed out that Israel has repeatedly accused Guterres of being a “supporter of terrorism” and “anti-Semite,” accusations that have been repeated to the point of him being considered “persona non grata” by the Israeli government after he did not explicitly condemn Iranian attacks on Israel.

Awkal pointed out that these criticisms are not an exception, but rather come within a long pattern of criticisms and accusations that Israel directs against any official or international institution that stands against it, whether it is human rights, legal, or even relief and health, especially during the war on Gaza.

Awkal wondered about the “world” we are talking about: Is it Israel’s partner or the helpless or silent world?

Israel operates outside the framework of the international system

Israel, according to Okal, operates outside the framework of the international system and exploits the protection of the United States to practice what he described as international “riot” without fear of punishment or accountability.

One of the most prominent things that Okal refers to is the famous incident carried out by the Israeli representative to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, when he tore up the United Nations Charter in public in front of everyone, which reflects - according to Okal - the extent of Israel's contempt for the international organization and its values. This contempt also extends to include the public threats directed at the judges of the International Criminal Court or the International Court of Justice, whether by Israel or the United States.

Awkal pointed out that Guterres' position would be merely a "personal position," as he does not have the authority or ability to stop Israel and its allies, while Awkal ruled out that Israel would assassinate Guterres for fear of losing its allies and in light of the current international situation.