Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan called on Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to retract his condemnation of Israel's latest anti-terrorism campaign in the West Bank city of Jenin.
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UN deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq said the secretary-general conveyed his views on Thursday "and he stands by those views."
Video: Ambassador Erdan speaking at the UN, Israel delegation to UN spokesperson office
Guterres said the operation left over 100 civilians injured, uprooted thousands of residents, damaged schools and hospitals, and disrupted water and electricity networks.
The two-day operation cracked down on Palestinian terrorists, during which one IDF soldier was also killed.
"I strongly condemn all acts of violence against civilians, including acts of terror," Guterres told reporters.
Asked whether this condemnation applied to Israel, he replied: "It applies to all use of excessive force, and obviously in this situation, there was an excessive force used by Israeli forces."
Erdan called the UN chief's remarks "shameful, far-fetched, and completely detached from reality." He said the Israeli military action in Jenin "focused solely on combating the murderous Palestinian terror targeting innocent Israeli civilians."
Haq, the UN spokesperson, said Guterres "clearly condemns all of the violence that has been affecting the civilians in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, regardless of who is the perpetrator."
Erdan sent a letter to the 15 council members and Guterres before the council meeting saying that over the past year, 52 Israelis were killed by Palestinians, and many attacks were carried out from Jenin or from the area.
"The international community and the Security Council must unconditionally condemn the latest Palestinian terror attacks and hold Palestinian leadership accountable," he said.
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