UN chief slammed for “crocodile tears” over slain Israeli hostages
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres briefs reporters on the situation in Gaza on May 7, 2024. Credit: Mark Garten/U.N. Photo.
(JNS) — António Guterres, the United Nations secretary-general who has long been accused of Jew-hatred and anti-Israel bias, drew widespread criticism on Sept. 1 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.”
