UN Secretary-General condemns Israeli Minister's remarks on Gaza

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has formally condemned statements made by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir regarding the conflict in Gaza. On August 19, 2026, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric delivered the condemnation on behalf of the Secretary-General, describing the minister's comments as "abhorrent, scandalous, inhumane, and dangerous.

The controversy stems from remarks made by Ben-Gvir days earlier, in which he suggested that Israel should be killing "30 or 40" people "every night in Gaza" as part of the ongoing military operations. The United Nations has characterized this rhetoric as a violation of humanitarian principles, unequivocally rejecting the minister’s proposed approach to the conflict.

This incident adds to the growing diplomatic friction between international organizations and members of the Israeli government. The United Nations has consistently called for restraint in the region, and this latest official rebuke underscores the deepening divide regarding the conduct of the war. No further legal actions or follow-up investigations by the UN beyond this verbal condemnation were mentioned in the reports at this time.