Israel demands UN chief’s ouster

Israel's outspoken ambassador to the United Nations has called for the resignation of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for criticizing the country's war with the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas.

Gilad Erdan made the call in a post on X, saying the UN chief has "expressed an understanding for terrorism and murder."

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, meanwhile, canceled a meeting with Guterres in response to the UN chief's speech during a Security Council session on the Gaza crisis.

The UN leader had alleged "clear violations" of international law as Israel pounds Gaza in response to the 7 October assault by Hamas and called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.

Guterres also said that the Hamas attacks did not occur "in a vacuum," pointing to "56 years of suffocating occupation" endured by the Palestinians.

"How you can agree to a ceasefire with someone who swore to kill and destroy your own existence?" an angry Cohen said in response.

Rejecting tying the violence to the occupation, Cohen said Israel gave Gaza to the Palestinians "to the last millimeter" with its withdrawal in 2005.