Members of the UN Security Council have voiced their unwavering support for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres after Israel declared him “persona non grata” and barred him from entering the country.
French UN envoy Nicolas de Riviere expressed gratitude for Guterres’s remarks made during an emergency Security Council session addressing the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, reaffirming full support and trust from France.
Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia characterised Israel’s decision as “unheard of” and “a slap not just on the UN but on all of us,” urging fellow council members to respond to this “outrageous act.”
China’s envoy, Fu Cong, echoed these sentiments, declaring Beijing’s resolute support for Guterres and opposing Israel’s decision. Malta’s representative, Vanessa Frazier, highlighted the continued and unwavering support for the Secretary-General, commending him for his leadership during these challenging times.
Ondina Blokar, Slovenia’s deputy envoy, praised the UN’s efforts and expressed full backing for Guterres, urging Israel to reconsider its recent announcement.
South Korea’s envoy, Joonkook Hwang, also voiced his support and extended deep gratitude to Guterres for his relentless pursuit of peace in the Middle East. Algerian representative Amar Bendjama conveyed full solidarity, admiration, and support for Guterres, labelling Israel’s decision as indicative of its clear disdain for the UN system and the entire international community.
Switzerland, currently holding the presidency of the Security Council, reiterated its full support for Guterres, emphasising that the UN, in collaboration with other organisations, is providing humanitarian aid to all civilians affected by the ongoing conflict.
In contrast, US envoy Linda Thomas-Greenfield notably refrained from addressing Guterres in her remarks, stating, “The United States is fully, fully, fully supportive of Israel.”
Israel’s decision to declare Guterres “persona non grata” followed his calls for urgent de-escalation in the Middle East after a recent missile attack. Israel rebuked Guterres for then failing to mention Iran by name in his statements and for not “directly condemning” Tehran. Guterres had condemned the escalation of conflict in the region and urged for an immediate ceasefire, stating, “I condemn the broadening of the Middle East conflict with escalation after escalation.”
