UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has come under fire in recent days after making comments in the wake of recent rocket attacks from Hamas on Israel. The comments have sparked a growing chorus of calls for his resignation, as he is accused of being too soft on Israel and too lenient on their actions.
The controversy began after Ban Ki-moon made a statement in which he condemned both Israel and Hamas for their actions in the ongoing conflict. While the UN Secretary-General condemned Hamas for their “indiscriminate attacks” on Israel, he also scolded Israel for their “excessive use of force.” This statement sparked strong reactions from both sides, as Hamas labeled Ban Ki-moon’s comments as “unfair” while Israel accused him of bias.
In addition to Ban Ki-moon’s criticisms of Israel, the UN Secretary-General also recently referred to a UN Security Council resolution that called for a halt to “all acts of violence in the region,” in reference to Israel’s action in the conflict. This statement further angered Israel, as they accused Ban Ki-moon of being too soft on Hamas and their attacks on Israel.
The rising criticism has triggered a strong response from top UN political figures, with many calling for Ban Ki-moon’s resignation over his perceived handling of the conflict. In a statement, one senior official said that the Secretary-General should be removed from office for his comments, which they viewed as being overly lenient on Hamas and not taking Israel’s security seriously enough.
Other countries, including the US, have also voiced their condemnation of Ban Ki-moon’s comments. Secretary of State John Kerry has called for an apology from the UN Secretary-General, and stated that his comments “failed to adequately address the security needs of the Israeli people.”
The US State Department also released a statement in which they criticized Ban Ki-moon’s “inconsistent and one-sided views” on the conflict. The statement also said that the UN Secretary-General must take a stronger stance against Hamas and terrorism in general, and not give any kind of moral legitimacy to such actions.
The international community is now waiting to see what will happen next, as calls for Ban Ki-moon’s resignation continue to grow. While it is unclear what the result of the outcry against the UN Secretary-General will be, it is clear that the international community is no longer willing to remain silent in the face of the conflict between Israel and Hamas.