UN chief tries to walk back remarks justifying Hamas assault on Israel

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks during a Security Council meeting at United Nations headquarters, October 24, 2023. (Seth Wenig/AP)
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks during a Security Council meeting at United Nations headquarters, October 24, 2023. (Seth Wenig/AP)

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres tries to walk back his remarks that appeared to justify Hamas’s deadly assault on Israel.

“The grievances of the Palestinian people cannot justify the horrific attacks by Hamas,” Guterres tweets, adding: “Those horrendous attacks cannot justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.”

Israel officials railed at Guterres after he told the  UN Security Council, “It is important to also recognize the attacks by Hamas did not happen in a vacuum,” with many calling on him to resign.

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