Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz on Saturday described the UN as an “anti-Israel organization” following a visit to the Gaza Strip by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who called for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire”, AFP and Agerpres reported.

“Under his leadership, the UN has become an anti-Semitic and anti-Israel organization that harbors and encourages terrorism,” Israel Katz wrote on the X platform (formerly Twitter).

“UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres arrived today on the Egyptian side of the Rafah checkpoint and blamed Israel for the humanitarian situation in Gaza, without condemning in any way the Hamas terrorists who rob humanitarian aid,” the Israeli official accused.

This is a new episode in the ongoing tension between Israel and the UN.

After five and a half months of war that plunged the Gaza Strip into a catastrophic humanitarian situation, Guterres visited on Saturday the Egyptian side of Rafah, a city located between the Palestinian territories and Egypt.

The UN chief said he came to draw attention to the “pain” of Gazans, prisoners of an “endless nightmare”.

“Nothing justifies the horrific attacks by Hamas on October 7. And nothing justifies the collective punishment of the Palestinian people. Now, more than ever, the time has come for a humanitarian truce,” he emphasized.

Hamas’ health ministry said nine people were killed by Israeli fire on Saturday as they waited for aid to be distributed on the outskirts of Gaza City.