Israel demands UN chief resign over Hamas attack comments

BBC News:

Israel has reacted angrily to comments made by the UN secretary general about the Gaza war at the Security Council.

António Guterres said he condemned unequivocally the deadly attacks by Hamas gunmen in Israel two weeks ago but that it was important to recognise that they “did not happen in a vacuum”.

Israeli ambassador Gilad Erdan accused him of “justifying terrorism” and demanded his immediate resignation.

He later said Israel would withhold visas from UN officials.

Foreign Minister Eli Cohen meanwhile dismissed calls for a ceasefire and proportionality in his country’s response to the Hamas attacks, in which at least 1,400 people were killed and 222 taken as hostages.

The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says more than 6,500 people have been killed in the territory since Israel retaliated with air and artillery strikes while massing troops for an expected ground invasion.