Did Israel Just Accuse UN Chief of Spreading Lies?

Tel Aviv, June 28 (NationPress) The Foreign Ministry of Israel issued a strong rebuke on Saturday against United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres's comments regarding humanitarian aid provided to Gaza, accusing Israel of being responsible for the UN's "failures" and the actions of Hamas.

The ministry emphasized that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) do not engage in attacks against civilians.

This statement followed Guterres's call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, where he highlighted that the humanitarian crisis has escalated to "horrific proportions," stating, "Individuals are being killed simply for attempting to secure food for themselves and their families. The quest for sustenance should never equate to a death sentence."

In reference to the alleged assaults on the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), Guterres remarked, "We do not require a report of that nature to recognize that there have been significant violations of international law, and accountability is essential when such violations occur."

In a message on X, the ministry stated, "In response to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres's statements: Holding Israel accountable for the failures of the UN and the actions of Hamas is a conscious strategy. The GHF has provided over 46 million meals directly to Palestinian civilians, not Hamas. Nonetheless, the UN appears to be working against this initiative."

Israel further asserted that through these actions, the UN is "aligning itself with Hamas," which the foreign ministry accused of attempting to "undermine the GHF's humanitarian efforts."

"The IDF does not target civilians, and any claims to the contrary are outright lies. It is Hamas that is intentionally targeting and killing GHF aid workers—a crime the UN has never condemned—and also attacking civilians who are gathering aid from the GHF," it added.

"The UN must now make a choice: Does it wish to maintain its monopoly and a system that benefits Hamas, thereby extending the conflict, or is it committed to delivering humanitarian assistance to the civilians in Gaza?" the ministry questioned.

Moreover, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a joint statement on Friday, emphasizing that the IDF had received clear directives to avoid harming innocents.

"The State of Israel categorically rejects the vile blood libels published in the Ha'aretz newspaper, which alleged that 'IDF Soldiers Were Ordered to Shoot Deliberately at Unarmed Gazans Waiting for Humanitarian Aid,'" the statement concluded.