What’s happening:
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres faced criticism on social media after claiming the civilian death toll in Gaza was unprecedented under his tenure. A social media platform’s community note highlighted that conflicts in Syria and Yemen have seen higher casualties.
Why it matters:
The accuracy of Guterres’s statements is under scrutiny, with implications for the UN’s perceived impartiality in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The remarks have fueled allegations of an anti-Israel bias within the UN.
The details:
Guterres’s comments were made during a press conference and were subsequently fact-checked by a community note on a social media platform, which cited higher death tolls in other conflicts. An Israeli official accused Guterres of losing moral standing and vilifying Israel while ignoring other global conflicts with significant civilian casualties.
The UN’s stance:
A spokesperson for Guterres stated that the Secretary-General’s comments were focused on child casualties and that he did not intend to compare overall civilian death tolls across different conflicts.
Background:
The Gaza Health Ministry, controlled by Hamas, reports over 11,000 deaths in the Gaza Strip since Israel’s response to a terrorist attack. However, the ministry does not distinguish between combatant and civilian deaths. The UN has previously found the ministry’s numbers to be reliable.
Response from Israel:
Israel’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Gilad Erdan, criticized Guterres for his remarks, accusing him of bias and calling for his resignation. Guterres defended his position, condemning the terrorist attack and rejecting any endorsement of violence.
The bigger picture:
The controversy highlights ongoing tensions between Israel and the UN, as well as the challenges of reporting and verifying casualty figures in conflict zones. The debate over the Secretary-General’s comments reflects broader issues of trust and credibility facing international institutions.
This story was first published on foxnews.