Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen has accused the UN of ‘hypocrisy’ as his country faces criticism over its war tactics in Gaza.
He announced that Israel would not renew the visa of a United Nations staff member in the country and would also reject the visa application of another UN employee as the country reiterated its displeasure with the global body that has criticized Israel’s targeting of civilians and hospitals during the Gaza war, Al Jazeera reported.
“We will stop working with those who cooperate with the propaganda of the terrorist organization Hamas. We will no longer remain silent in the face of UN hypocrisy,” Eli Cohen, Israel’s foreign minister, announced on X on Monday, accusing the UN of bias.
Cohen described the UN’s behavior as “disgraceful” since the war broke out on October 7 after Hamas carried out deadly attacks inside Israel that killed around 1,200 people. The UN has criticized Hamas for the October 7 attack and has repeatedly called for the release of prisoners abducted by the group.
UN officials have also criticized Israel’s targeting of residential areas, schools and hospitals and its restriction of aid deliveries during the total siege imposed on Gaza after the October 7 attack. More than 100 journalists, around 270 medical staff and at least 134 UN staff have been killed in Israeli attacks.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has repeatedly called for a ceasefire and condemned the dire humanitarian crisis.
