UN vs. Israel feud: UK’s Rishi Sunak slaps down António Guterres

LONDON — Senior members of the U.K. government have criticized United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, amid an escalating dispute between the top official and Israel over his comments on the conflict with Hamas.

Israel has already called for Guterres to resign, after he said during a U.N. Security Council meeting Tuesday that Hamas’ attack on Israel “did not happen in a vacuum.” On Wednesday he sought to clarify those comments, adding that the “grievances of the Palestinian people cannot justify the horrific attacks by Hamas.”

Speaking Thursday, Britain’s Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden called on Guterres to further clarify his comments — a call which his boss, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, later backed.

“I certainly don’t agree with the comments of the U.N. secretary-general as they have been reported,” Dowden told Times Radio.

He added: “I understand they’ve been clarified subsequently, but there can be absolutely no blaming of anyone for this terrorist attack other than those terrorists in Gaza … I think it’d be helpful if the U.N. secretary-general could clarify that.”

Asked about Guterres’ comments in a Q&A following a speech Thursday, Sunak signaled his own disagreement.

“There’s one person responsible for what happened and that’s Hamas,” Sunak said. “They perpetrated an appalling attack of terrorism which has harmed very many people and they alone are responsible for that.”

Guterres’ comments have split European leaders. Portugal’s foreign ministry made clear it supported his comments on the war, while a spokesperson for the German government told Reuters the Berlin government still has confidence in the U.N. chief.

Following Hamas’ deadly attacks in early October, Israel has carried out a wave of retaliatory airstrikes and put the Gaza Strip under a “complete siege,” cutting off fuel, electricity and water.