On Tuesday, as reports were coming in of Iran's ballistic missiles hitting Israel, António Guterres, the Secretary-General of the anti-Israel United Nations, posted his demands for a ceasefire.
"I condemn the broadening of the Middle East conflict with escalation after escalation," Guterres posted. "We absolutely need a ceasefire," he also insisted, as if we haven't already heard such a call from the UN so many times before.
I condemn the broadening of the Middle East conflict with escalation after escalation.
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) October 1, 2024
This must stop.
We absolutely need a ceasefire.
UN Secretary General calls for a CEASEFIRE during the Iranian missile attack against Israel.
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) October 1, 2024
“I condemn the broadening of the Middle East conflict with escalation after escalation.
This must stop.
We absolutely need a ceasefire.” pic.twitter.com/5b3g7MQ8Tv
Guterres' post has received approximately 8,000 replies taking issue with his demands. Israel's X account also contributed to the over 1,000 quoted reposts, telling Guterres in no uncertain terms that they will not give into his demands.
"We condemn your inability to string together a tweet which holds Iran responsible for firing 181 ballistic missiles at 10 million Israeli civilians," the post fittingly read.
We condemn your inability to string together a tweet which holds Iran responsible for firing 181 ballistic missiles at 10 million Israeli civilians.@antonioguterres https://t.co/5MLYbYqLlz
— Israel ישראל (@Israel) October 1, 2024
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“Iran’s attack is a severe and dangerous escalation. There will be consequences…We will respond wherever, whenever and however we choose, in accordance with the directive of the government of Israel.”
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 1, 2024
Watch IDF Spokesperson RAdm. Daniel Hagari regarding Iran’s large-scale… pic.twitter.com/A8pyC7eawI
Matt's also covered how Israel will conduct airstrikes across the region in response to the attack.
Demanding a ceasefire wasn't the only problematic part of Guterres' post. Naftali Bennett, the former prime minister of Israel also took issue with Guterres referring to "the broadening" of conflict, rather than condemning the Islamic Republic of Iran for their aggression against the Jewish State.
You’ve gotta be kidding.
— Naftali Bennett נפתלי בנט (@naftalibennett) October 1, 2024
You condemn”the broadening”?!
You just aren’t able to blurt the simple words “I condemn the Islamic Republic of Iran who just shot roughly 180 deadly ballistic missiles towards the citizens of Israel.”
Quit. https://t.co/8RCl0F3GZl
Guterres expressed grave concern about Lebanon earlier on Tuesday, in which he also "appeal[ed] for an immediate ceasefire." His post even spoke about how "the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon must be respected."
Such a post also received some less than friendly responses, with many also reminding about what a failure the UN has been on this issue.
I am extremely concerned with the escalation of the conflict in Lebanon and appeal for an immediate ceasefire.
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) October 1, 2024
An all-out war must be avoided in Lebanon at all costs, and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon must be respected.
Oh, you’re concerned for Lebanon?
— Vivid.🇮🇱 (@VividProwess) October 1, 2024
Where were you when Hezbollah has took Lebanon hostage and made the entire South of Lebanon a military base?
Israel is FREEING Lebanon from its cancer, Hezbollah. Cut the BS.
You were also extremely silent for almost 12 months, as Hezbollah pounded Israel with rockets and UNIFIL looked the other way as UNSC Resl 1701 was trashed. Now you can’t even mention Hezbollah. You are a coward and an embarrassment of a leader!
— Arsen Ostrovsky 🎗️ (@Ostrov_A) October 1, 2024
"The sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon" hasn't been respected since Hezbollah terrorists began operating a State within a State in Lebanon.
— Joel M. Petlin (@Joelmpetlin) October 1, 2024
Resolution 1701 called for disarming Hezbollah and keeping them out of South Lebanon.
The last year has proven UN's failure
The timing was particularly poor on such a post, as the IDF was posting about sirens going off not long after Guterres was posting about Lebanon. Further, there were reports earlier in the day about the White House being aware of Iran preparing to "imminently" attacking Israel with ballistic missiles.
For all of his demands, especially to do with Lebanon, Guterres might want to take it up with Hezbollah. In addition to invading Lebanon on Monday, Israel has been taking out Hezbollah terrorists for weeks, including just after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke at the UN last Friday, in a move that was purposefully meant to give the terrorists a false sense of security.
The UN's X account has reposted Guterres and doubled down on concerns for Lebanon and with calling for a ceasefire, posting and reposting about Lebanon no less than four times on Tuesday.
A pinned post from the UN, posted earlier on Tuesday, points out that "civilians always pay the highest price." In Israel on Tuesday, approximately 10 million civilians were the target of Iran's missiles.
In conflict, civilians always pay the highest price.
— United Nations (@UN) October 1, 2024
War is not the answer.
We need peace. pic.twitter.com/w86Jh7sXCh
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