The UN Secretary-General on Wednesday firmly rebuked what he described as the 'false' claim by top Israeli diplomats that he had sought to justify the terror attacks of 7 October by Hamas in a speech he delivered to the Security Council.

Addressing Tuesday's debate in the Council on the worsening crisis in Israel and Palestine, the UN chief said that although nothing could justify the 'appalling' attacks by Hamas of 7 October which triggered the siege and bombardment of Gaza, it was important to recognize they 'did not happen in a vacuum' and did not justify the collective punishment of Palestinians.