Israel announced on Tuesday that they had blocked automatic visas for United Nations employees amid the rising tensions in the Israel-Hamas war.
The Israeli government accused the UN of being involved in Hamas's tactics.
Israel Blocks Automatic Visas for UN Employees
A flag of the United Nations flutters at the main entrance of the "Palais des Nations" building which houses the United Nations Office at Geneva, on October 20, 2023.
Israeli government spokesperson Eylon Levy announced that Israel will only consider case-by-case basis visa requests and said that the country will no longer work with the people who cooperate with Hamas's terror regime's propaganda machine.
Levy said that the international officials have been deflecting blame onto Israel to cover up for the fact that they were covering up for Hamas in failing to condemn Hamas for hijacking aid and failing to condemn it for waging war out of hospitals.
He noted that Israel urges its allies to follow suit and stand up for basic integrity.
Tensions between Israel and the UN have intensified in recent weeks due to the UN's repeated calls for a ceasefire. According to the health ministry in Gaza, over 20,900 Palestinian casualties have been recorded since early October.
Israel has expanded its ground offensive in the central Gaza Strip, mainly in the urban refugee camps, to neutralize Hamas.
US officials have also engaged in discussions with Israel's minister for strategic affairs at the White House due to the escalating pressure for a ceasefire.
The ongoing conflict has reached central camps like Nuseirat, Maghazi, and Bureij, where shelling and airstrikes were reported. Palestinians now reside in these camps who fled northern Gaza during the early stages of Israel's ground offensive.
Israel's military spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, claimed that there would be extensive fighting in central camps.
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UN Passes Ceasefire Resolution
The UN passed a nonbinding resolution for a ceasefire in Gaza earlier this month, along with ten countries. The US and Israel voted against the resolution.
Several UN leaders, such as UN Secretary-General António Guterres, have repeatedly supported increased aid to Gaza and a ceasefire.
Last week, the UN Security Council passed a resolution for humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip and the release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas.
According to The Hill, Hamas took 240 people hostage during its October 7 attack in Israel into Israel. Israel's retaliation on October 7 has killed 1,200 people.
Last month, Hamas released 100 hostages during a week-long ceasefire.
The US voted against the most recent resolution but did not also block it. US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield claimed that the UN Security Council clarified that addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza needs to remain at the forefront of their agenda.
Furthermore, while the US has not joined the ceasefire in Gaza, the White House and other US officials said they have warned Israel to take greater caution in minimizing civilian deaths in Gaza.
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