António Guterres, the United Nations secretary-general who has long been accused of Jew-hatred and anti-Israel bias, drew widespread criticism on Sunday for what he did not say in a statement about the six hostages, whom Hamas killed and whose names were released the prior night.
“I will never forget my meeting last October with the parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin and other hostage families,” Guterres wrote. “Today’s tragic news is a devastating reminder of the need for the unconditional release of all hostages and an end to the nightmare of war in Gaza.”
Hillel Neuer, executive director of UN Watch, wrote that “Hamas just murdered six Israeli and American hostages by shooting them in the head. Why can’t you say so? Why can’t you condemn them?”
“Save your crocodile tears for someone who has an ounce of respect for your leadership,” wrote the Israeli diplomat Yaki Lopez.
“Won’t even say ‘Hamas.’ Won’t condemn the terror group that took Hersh, held him hostage for 330 days and murdered him,” wrote AIPAC. “Says it all.”
Israel Nitzan, a former Israeli diplomat, called the statement “cowardly and morally flawed,” adding, “why can’t Mr. Guterres condemn Hamas for brutally executing innocent hostages?”
“Hamas. The word is Hamas. Hamas did this. Say it,” wrote Matthew Levit, a senior fellow at The Washington Institute and director of its counterterrorism and intelligence program.
“Resign. Your failure to pressure, or even acknowledge Hamas, emboldened them,” wrote Esther Panitch, a Georgia state representative who is Jewish. “They know you are spineless.”
Arsen Ostrovsky, CEO at The International Legal Forum and senior fellow at the Misgav Institute for National Security and Zionist Strategy, called Guterres “a pathetic and cowardly excuse for a world leader,” who “can’t even bring himself to name Hamas or condemn them.”
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), chair of the House Republican Conference, stated on Sunday that “the complete and total failure of U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres to condemn Hamas terrorists for their barbarous, gruesome atrocities committed on Oct. 7 against Israel and the kidnapping of hundreds of hostages is undoubtedly aiding and abetting Hamas in their war against our precious ally Israel.”
“Today, Guterres abjectly failed to call out and condemn Hamas for their heinous murder of six hostages including one American,” Stefanik added. “Guterres should be using every tool the U.N. has to unequivocally condemn Hamas terrorists and bring these hostages home, instead the U.N. continues to spew antisemitism attacking Israel. His inaction and silence is antisemitic, inhumane and unforgivable.”
