WATCH: Israel demands UN Chief resignation after he said Hamas attack 'did not occur in vacuum'

Israel has voiced anger over UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ remark that Hamas attacks “did not happen in a vacuum” and demanded his resignation. In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, said the UN chief has “expressed an understanding for terrorism and murder.”

מזכ״ל האו״ם מנותק מהמציאות וחייב להתפטר‼️
עמדתי היום בכניסה למועצת הבטחון יחד עם משפחות החטופים וקראתי למזכ״ל להתפטר.
מזכ״ל שמחפש צידוק לטבח הנורא שבוצע בנו לא יכול להישאר בתפקידו. כל יום מעכשיו שהוא ממשיך בתפקידו הוא ביזיון ומוכיח שלאו״ם אין זכות קיום!
צפו ורטווטו>> pic.twitter.com/v960jTCAqJ

— Ambassador Gilad Erdan גלעד ארדן (@giladerdan1) October 24, 2023

Guterres Tuesday alleged violations of international law in Gaza and urged for an immediate ceasefire as Israel airstrikes continue in the Palestinian territory in response to attacks by Hamas. What did Guterres say? In the opening session of a high-level Security Council meeting, the UN chief said there was no excuse for the “appalling” violence by Hamas terrorists on October 7, but also warned against “collective punishment” of the Palestinians. “I am deeply concerned about the clear violations of international humanitarian law that we are witnessing in Gaza. Let me be clear: No party to an armed conflict is above international humanitarian law,” Guterres said, without explicitly naming Israel. Guterres also said the Hamas attacks “did not happen in a vacuum” as the Palestinians have been “subjected to 56 years of suffocating occupation.” Israel fumes at Guterres The remarks by the UN Secretary-General infuriated Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen who, raising his voice and pointing his finger at Guterres, recounted graphic accounts of civilians including young children killed in the deadliest single attack in Israeli history. “Mr Secretary-General, in what world do you live?” Cohen said. Rejecting tying the violence to the occupation, Cohen said Israel gave Gaza to the Palestinians “to the last millimeter” with its withdrawal in 2005. Israel shortly afterward imposed a blockade of the impoverished territory, in place ever since, after Hamas took power, and it still occupies the West Bank. Israel-Hamas War update On October 7, Hamas terrorists stormed into Israel and attacked largely civilian targets including families and a music festival, killing at least 1,400 people and taking more than 220 hostages. More than 5,700 Palestinians, also mostly civilians, have been killed across the Gaza Strip in retaliatory Israeli bombardments, the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry said. Guterres, who personally traveled to the crossing between Egypt and Gaza in a push to let in assistance, welcomed the entry of three aid convoys so far through the Rafah crossing. But the UN Chief said it was “a drop of aid in an ocean of need,” as the UN agency for Palestinian refugees warned it would be forced to stop working Wednesday due to lack of fuel. “To ease epic suffering, make the delivery of aid easier and safer, and facilitate the release of hostages, I reiterate my appeal for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.” Israel, backed by the United States, has rejected calls to halt the offensive, saying it would only allow Hamas to regroup. With inputs from AFP