The Israeli government is discussing far-reaching measures against United Nations agencies operating in Israel and the Gaza Strip, including the possible expulsion of UN staff, over the decision by Guterres to "blacklist" the IDF as a party that commits violations against children in Gaza, The Financial Times has reported, citing five people familiar with the matter.
The newspaper cited two people in the know as saying on Tuesday that the Israeli cabinet considered a range of response options at a meeting on Sunday night and discussions with the Israeli National Security Council on Monday.
"They need to be concerned," one Israeli official told the media in relation to UN agencies.
Measures discussed by the Israeli government reportedly include the "slow-roll" or outright rejection of visa renewals for foreign UN staff, Israel's boycott of key UN officials, and the unilateral termination and expulsion of entire UN missions, although no final decision has been made yet.
However, the report cited one of the people in the know as saying that the role and functions UN agencies fulfilled on the ground would not disappear but would shift to Israel no matter what punitive actions the Israeli government rolled out.
"Who do they think will work with them to get aid into Gaza? Who do they think will rebuild Gaza after the war? If they want to do it themselves, then let them," the report quoted the source as saying.
On October 7, 2023, the Palestinian movement Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel and breached the border, attacking both civilian neighborhoods and military bases. Nearly 1,200 people in Israel were killed, and some 240 others abducted during the attack. Israel launched retaliatory strikes, ordered a complete blockade of Gaza, and started a ground incursion into the Palestinian enclave with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas fighters and rescuing the hostages. Over 37,100 people have been killed so far by Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip, according to local authorities. A total of 120 hostages are still believed to be held by Hamas in Gaza, and about a third of them are believed to be dead.