The United Nations Secretary-General said today, Wednesday, that his statements regarding the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas were not intended to justify the initial attack launched by Hamas earlier this month, instead stating that his remarks have been "distorted" in a conflict that led to a visa ban for United Nations staff.

The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres spoke today, hours after Israel announced that it would stop issuing visas to UN staff "to teach them a lesson" regarding Guterres' initial comments made during a meeting on Tuesday.

Guterres told reporters in New York City, "I was shocked by the distortions that appeared in some of my statements yesterday at the Security Council as if I were justifying the terrorist actions of Hamas. This is not true; it was the opposite."

"I spoke about the suffering of the Palestinian people, and in doing so, stated clearly, and I quote, that the grievances of the Palestinian people cannot justify the horrific attacks carried out by Israeli occupying forces."

During a meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday, Guterres said that the Hamas attack on October 7 "did not happen in a vacuum," but after "56 years of stifling occupation" by Israel.

Angry Israelis accused the senior official of justifying the Hamas incursion that resulted in 1,400 deaths and 2,700 injuries, and dozens taken hostage.

The visa action came from Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, on Wednesday morning.

Erdan told Army Radio, a national station run by the Israel Defense Forces: "Because of Guterres' statements, we will refuse to issue visas to UN representatives. We have already rejected a visa for UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths."

He added, "It's time to teach them a lesson."

Through his position at the UN, Griffiths coordinates emergency relief for people affected by humanitarian crises. It was not immediately clear whether Israel's decision on visas would affect UN relief staff already on the ground in Gaza and the West Bank.

Erdan called for Guterres' immediate resignation. Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, who was visiting, said he would no longer attend a scheduled meeting with Guterres on Tuesday.

Instead, Guterres met with representatives of the families of those held hostage in Gaza.

Guterres did not comment on the visa measures, stating that his original remarks on Tuesday "unequivocally condemned" the attacks that occurred two weeks ago, saying, "Nothing can justify the deliberate killing, injuring, and kidnapping of civilians or the firing of rockets at civilian targets."

He added, "I think it was necessary to set the record straight, especially out of respect for the victims and their families."

Israel imposed a complete blockade on Gaza in response to the Hamas incursion, carrying out devastating airstrikes on the territory over the past two weeks. Thousands have been killed, and food, water, and medicine have run out for the surviving population.

The United Nations said that more than half of Gaza's 2.3 million inhabitants have now left their homes, with nearly 600,000 crowded into UN shelters.

Later on Wednesday, the UN Security Council will vote on competing proposals put forth by the United States and Russia regarding action on the conflict.

Both countries seek to pass resolutions from the UN Security Council to address the shortages of food, water, medical supplies, and electricity in Gaza – but the United States has called for a temporary ceasefire to allow aid to enter Gaza, while Russia wants a humanitarian ceasefire.