UN secretary general says comments on Hamas attack were 'misrepresented,' as Israel retaliates with visa ban

The United Nations' top official said onWednesday his comments around the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas were not intended to justify the initial attack by Hamas earlier this month, saying instead that his comments were "misrepresented" in a dispute that has led to a ban on visas for UN staff.

UN Secretary General Antnio Guterresspoke on Wednesday,hours afterIsraelsaid it wouldstop issuing visas to UN personnel to "teach them a lesson" over Guterres's initial comments, which were madeduring a meeting on Tuesday.

"I am shocked by the misrepresentations by some of my statement yesterday in the Security Council as if I was justifying acts of terror by Hamas. This is false, it was the opposite,"Guterressaid, speaking to reporters inNew York City.

"I spoke of the grievance of the Palestinian people and in doing so, I also clearly stated, and I quote, that 'the grievances of the Palestinian people cannot justify the appalling attacks by Hamas.'"

WATCH |Guterres sayscomments not intended to justify Hamas's attack:

UN secretary-general says comments on Hamas's initial attack were 'misrepresented'

11 months ago

Duration 1:27

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said his comments around the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas were not intended to justify the violent initial attack by Hamas on Oct. 7.

Details on visa ban unclear

During a UN Security Council meeting on Tuesday, Guterressaid Hamas'sattack on Oct. 7 "did not happen in a vacuum," but after "56 years of suffocating occupation" by Israel.

Outraged Israelis accused the high-ranking official of justifying the Hamasincursion that left 1,400 people dead and 2,700 wounded, with scores moretaken hostage.

The action on visas came from Israel's ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, on Wednesday morning.

"Due to [Guterres's] remarks we will refuse to issue visas to UN representatives. We have already refused a visa for under-secretary general for humanitarian affairsMartin Griffiths," Erdantold Army Radio, a national radio station run by Israeli Defence Forces.

"The time has come to teach them a lesson."

In his role at the UN, Griffiths co-ordinates emergency relief for people affected by humanitarian crises. It was not immediately clear whether Israel's decision on visas would affect UN aid personnel already on the ground in Gaza and the West Bank.

Erdan called on Guterres to resign immediately. Israel's visiting Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said he would no longer attend a planned meeting withGuterres on Tuesday.

Instead,Guterresmet with family representatives of peopleheld hostage in Gaza.

WATCH | Freed hostage describes being captured by Hamas:

Freed Israeli hostage talks about being captured by Hamas

11 months ago

Duration 2:55

With translation provided by her daughter, Yocheved Lifshitz, 85, describes being abducted from her kibbutz by Hamas militants during the Oct. 7 attacks and taken into Gaza.

Guterres did not comment on the visa action Wednesday. He said his original remarks Tuesday"condemned unequivocally" the attacks two weeks ago, saying: "Nothing can justify the deliberate killing, injuring and kidnapping of civilians or the launching of rockets against civilian targets."

"I believe it was necessary to set the record straight, especially out of respect to the victims and to their families," he said.

Israel imposed a complete siege over Gaza in response to Hamas's incursion, bombarding the territory with devastating airstrikesover the past two weeks. Thousands have been killed and surviving residents have been running out of food, water and medicine.

WATCH |Canada wants pause in hostilities to get critical aid to civilians, minister says:

Canada backs 'humanitarian pause' to get aid to civilians, Blair says

11 months ago

Duration 1:48

Defence Minister Bill Blair says Canada wants to see a pause in hostilities in the Israel-Hamas war in order to get critical aid to people 'who desperately need it.'

The UN has said more than halfof Gaza's 2.3 million residents are now out of their homes, with almost 600,000 crowded into UN shelters.

Later on Wednesday, theUNSecurity Council will vote onrival proposalsby the United StatesandRussia for action on the conflict.

Both countries seek UN Security Council resolutions to address shortages of food, water, medical suppliesandelectricity in Gaza but theU.S.has called for pauses to allow aid to enter Gaza, while Russia wants a humanitarian ceasefire.