Israel’s foreign minister announced Wednesday he has banned United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres from entering Israel.

Israel Katz indicated in a social media post the move is in response to a statement Guterres issued Tuesday that condemned the broadening and escalating conflict in the Middle East but not specifically decry Iran’s missile strikes on Israel.

“This must stop,” Guterres said. “We absolutely need a ceasefire.”

Katz wrote that anyone “who is unable to unequivocally condemn Iran's criminal attack on Israel, as almost all the countries of the world have done, does not deserve to set foot on Israel's soil.”

He also criticized Guterres for not denouncing Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attacks on Israel, which catapulted Israel and the militant group into war, and for the U.N. not declaring Hamas a terrorist organization.

“Global terrorism Iran will be remembered as a forever blot in the history of the United Nations,” Katz wrote. “Israel will continue to protect its citizens and maintain its position and national honor with or without Antonio Guterres.”

The United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Spectrum News.

U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Wednesday that banning Guterres from Israel would not be helpful for Israel.

“We don't think it's a productive step at all,” he said. “ … The U.N. does incredibly important work in Gaza, does incredibly important work in the region, and the U.N., when it's acting its best, can play an important role for security and stability. So we think it's important that Israel be able to engage with the U.N. 

“One of the things we've always said Israel needs to be cognizant of throughout this conflict is its standing in the world,” Miller added. “And steps like this are not productive to improving its standing in the world.”

In addition to striking Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip for nearly a year, Israeli forces in recent weeks have stepped up their ongoing fight against Hezbollah in Lebanon, including by killing Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, last week and launching a ground incursion this week.

Iran, which backs Hamas and Hezbollah, responded Tuesday by launching at least 180 missiles into Israel. The Israeli military said it intercepted many of the missiles, though some landed in central and southern Israel and two people were lightly wounded by shrapnel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to retaliate, saying Iran “made a big mistake tonight, and it will pay for it.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.