JERUSALEM / PARIS / KUALA LUMPUR / NEW DELHI - Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz on Wednesday declared UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres persona non grata in Israel and banned him from entering the country.
According to a statement released by Katz, the decision was made after Guterres refrained from condemning the Iranian missile attack against Israel on Tuesday evening.
"Anyone who cannot unequivocally condemn Iran's heinous attack on Israel, as almost every country in the world has done, does not deserve to step foot on Israeli soil," Katz explained in a statement.
Iran launched about 180 ballistic missiles at targets in Israel on Tuesday evening. Teheran claims this action was in retaliation for Israel's assassinations of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, and IRGC commander Abbas Nilforoushan, as well as Israel's escalating "malicious acts" against Lebanese and Palestinian people with US support.
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron asked Israel to end forthwith its military operations in Lebanon, the Elysee presidential palace said on Wednesday in a press release.
Noting many civilian victims in conflicts, Macron expressed his wish that Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity would be restored in strict compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
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"In this regard, he reaffirmed France's commitment to UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon)," the Elysee said, adding that France will stand alongside all those who act in this direction and will very soon organize a conference in support of the Lebanese people and their institutions.
According to the press release, Macron also reiterated his determination to reach a long-term settlement that ensures the security of the populations on both sides of the Blue Line, the UN-drawn provisional border between Israel and Lebanon.
"The displaced must be able to return home in complete safety, in Israel as well as in Lebanon," Macron stressed.
Condemning Iran's attack on Israel, Macron also called on all parties involved to exercise the utmost restraint.
On Tuesday, France's Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs already condemned the Israeli airstrikes that had caused an unacceptable number of civilian casualties, including dozens of children and women.
Israel has recently intensified its strikes on Beirut and its suburbs, targeting Hezbollah officials and facilities.
Hezbollah and the Israeli army have been exchanging fire across the Lebanon-Israel border since Oct 8, 2023, when the Lebanon-based Shiite group fired rockets at Israel in support of its ally Hamas in the Gaza Strip, prompting retaliatory fire and airstrikes from Israel.
In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Wednesday urged all parties in the Middle East to urgently de-escalate the heightening tensions.
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He said the country urges all concerned parties to take immediate action to reduce hostilities and establish conditions necessary to prevent a broader regional conflict from erupting.
India's foreign ministry also urged Indian citizens to avoid all non-essential travel to Iran and advised its nationals living there to "remain vigilant" and stay in contact with the Indian Embassy in Teheran.
