UN reacts to Israeli representative who shared phone call on X

Spokesperson Dujarric made the remarks during his daily press briefing.

Dujarric said that earlier today, Earle Courtenay Rattray, Chief of Staff to the Secretary-General, held a call with Israeli Ambassador Erdan as per protocol regarding the blacklist report of "countries and organizations that harm children in conflict zones."

Stating that such calls are conducted to inform countries and prevent leaks, Dujarric said, "For Ambassador Erdan to record that phone call and publish a portion of it on X is shocking and unacceptable. Frankly, it is something I have not seen in my 24 years of service at this institution."

Dujarric pointed out that the report containing the blacklist is prepared annually at the request of the UN Security Council, adding, "This report on the situation of children in armed conflict zones is based on a very well-established and transparent methodology, which is outlined on our official website."

Israel's Permanent Representative to the UN, Gilad Erdan, had stated in a video recording he shared on his X account this morning, "I have received the official notification regarding the Secretary-General's decision to include the Israeli army on the 'blacklist' of countries and organizations that harm children."

In his post, Erdan described the decision as "shameful" and argued that the Israeli army is "the most moral army in the world."

Reports first appearing in Israeli media indicated that the UN has added Israel, which has killed thousands of civilians in the Gaza Strip since October 7, to the "list of countries and groups that harm children in conflict zones."

The UN report in question, which will include the blacklist, will be presented to the Security Council, which is set to convene on June 14.