New York, 14 November 2023 (dpa/MIA) - Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen once again slammed the head of the UN, Secretary General António Guterres, for not taking a more decisive stance against Gaza's Hamas rulers.

"Guterres does not deserve to be head of the UN," Cohen said in Geneva on Tuesday. "Guterres like all free nations should say clearly and loudly: Free Gaza from Hamas," Cohen continued.

Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric responded that the secretary general is continuing his work with iron nerves and calm and that he based his work on the principles of the Charter of International Humanitarian Law and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Israel has been angry with the UN chief since Guterres' remarks at the end of October when he had harshly criticized Israel's retaliatory attacks on Gaza.

Guterres had said they amounted to "clear violations of international humanitarian law" and "collective punishment" of Palestinians.

There were calls for Guterres' resignation from Israeli officials. Cohen, who was present in New York at the time, cancelled a meeting with the secretary general.

Photo: MIA Archive