Yad Vashem, Israeli officials react harshly to UN chief remarks on Oct 7 massacre

Israeli officials from across the political spectrum have harshly criticized UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for a speech at the Security Council, in which he appeared to rationalize the brutal Hamas massacres on October 7 as having a “cause” or having not happened “in a vacuum.”

The World Holocaust Remembrance Center Yad Vashem weighed in on the remark, releasing a statement that also condemned Guterres, saying that the UN chief had “failed” the test of vowing “Never Again.”

"The slaughter of Jews by Hamas on October 7th was genocidal in its intents and immeasurably brutal in its form. Part of why it differs from the Holocaust is because Jews have today a state and an army. We are not defenseless and at the mercy of others,” Yad Vashem Chairman Dani Dayan said in a statement.

“However, it puts to test the sincerity of world leaders, intellectuals and influencers that come to Yad Vashem and pledge “Never Again”. Those who seek to "understand", look for a justifying context, do not categorically condemn the perpetrators, and do not call for the unconditional and immediate release of the abducted – fail the test. UN Secretary General António Guterres failed the test,” the Yad Vashem chairman concluded.

Israeli Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan was the first to post on X, and later called on Guterres to resign immediately.

“His [Guterres’] statement that, “the attacks by Hamas did not happen in a vacuum,” expressed an understanding for terrorism and murder. It’s really unfathomable. It’s truly sad that the head of an organization that arose after the Holocaust holds such horrible views.”

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen immediately canceled a scheduled meeting with the UN Chief, later saying “there is no cause for such a massacre — shame on him [Guterres],' after finding out that the Secretary General's office told i24NEWS, “you can't solve the problem until you know the causes of the problem.”

“The grievances of the Palestinian people cannot justify the horrific attacks by Hamas. Those horrendous attacks cannot justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people,” Guterres had also reiterated part of his speech on X, following the harsh criticism for his vacuum remark.

Israeli Parliamentary speaker Amir Ohana demanded an apology for the victims and families, “who experienced a modern Holocaust on October 7th.”

“Secretary General Guterres brought shame upon the United Nations today. His speech provided excuses and rationalization for barbaric terrorism. There is never any excuse for the murder of children, the abduction of babies and the rape of women,” Israeli opppositon leader Yair Lapid posted on X.

It’s worth noting that it’s not just in words, but the UN agency dedicated to Palestinian affairs (UNRWA) has considered Hamas to be its partner. Furthermore, the textbooks provided to Palestinian children have been criticized by U.S. and EU officials for anti-Semitic content that incites violence. 

A former senior UN official told i24NEWS that the latest remark was “indicative of the anti-Israel bias within the UN, as well as the antisemitism that engulfs the entire organization.”