UN Secretary-General Urges World Not to Fear Israeli Reactions

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warned Friday that the world should not “fear” Israeli retaliatory actions as the country continues its military operations in Gaza and pursues a gradual annexation of the West Bank.

Reports indicate that Israel has threatened to annex the West Bank if Western countries proceed with recognizing a Palestinian state during next week’s UN General Assembly meetings in New York.

Guterres emphasized that international efforts should not be deterred by potential Israeli reactions. “We should not be afraid of retaliatory measures, because whether we act or not, these actions will continue. At least there is an opportunity to mobilize the international community to apply pressure to prevent this,” he said.

He added, “I do not believe we are talking about retaliation regarding any specific action. There has been ongoing progress in Israeli government measures aimed at completely destroying Gaza now, and gradually annexing the West Bank.”

The Secretary-General led calls for Israel to halt its military campaign in Gaza and to reconsider its “unprecedented” assault on Gaza City.

“It is the worst level of death and destruction I have seen since assuming my position as Secretary-General, and perhaps in my life. The suffering of the Palestinian people is indescribable—famine, a complete lack of effective healthcare, and people living without adequate shelter in severely overcrowded areas,” Guterres said.

However, he refrained from labeling Israel’s actions in Gaza as “genocide,” a term used by some UN agencies but strongly rejected by Israel. “The issue is not my mandate to legally define whether there is genocide,” he explained. “That is not within my authority. But let’s be clear: the problem is not in the word; the problem is the reality on the ground.”