In a move that signals a further deterioration in the relationship between Israel and the United Nations, Gilles Michaud, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security, was detained and interrogated by Israeli security agents on May 12. The incident occurred at Ben Gurion Airport shortly after Michaud’s arrival, where he was held for 45 minutes by agents from Shin Bet, Israel's domestic security service.
During the detention, Michaud was reportedly questioned extensively regarding his previous itinerary and activities within the Gaza Strip. Israeli officials have since moved to downplay the encounter, characterizing the interrogation as a logistical mishap resulting from a case of mistaken identity. However, given Michaud's high-profile status as the official responsible for the global safety of all UN personnel, the explanation has found little traction within international diplomatic circles.
Michaud expressed profound indignation following the ordeal, describing the treatment of a high-ranking UN official as an exceptionally rare and unprecedented breach of protocol. In an immediate display of protest against what he perceived as a targeted harassment tactic, the Under-Secretary-General announced the cancellation of all his scheduled official meetings within the country.
This confrontation comes at a time of peak tension between the Israeli government and various UN agencies. The detention of the UN’s top security chief—a man whose mandate is purely operational rather than political—suggests that the friction once reserved for humanitarian wings like UNRWA has now expanded to the core administrative functions of the international body.