UN Security Council expresses 'unwavering' support to UN chief after Israel bans him

​​​​​​​By Merve Aydogan

HAMILTON, Canada (AA) - The members of the UN Security Council expressed support Wednesday to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres after Israel barred him from entering the country and declared him "persona non grata."

France’s UN envoy, Nicolas de Riviere, thanked the UN chief for his remarks made at a Security Council emergency session that was convened because of the situation in the Middle East and expressed "full support and trust of France."

Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia described Israel's decision concerning Guterres as "unheard of" and "a slap, not just on the UN, but on all of us (Security Council)."

"We call on the members of the Security Council and the UN to react to this outrageous act," he said.

Fu Cong from China echoed the sentiments of his colleagues and expressed Beijing’s "resolute support" for Guterres and opposition to Israel's decision to ban the UN chief.

Malta's envoy Vanessa Frazier stressed "continued and unwavering support" to Guterres and thanked him "for his continued leadership and moral compass whilst guiding this organization through such difficult times."

The deputy envoy of Slovenia, Ondina Blokar, hailed the work of the UN and voiced "full support" for it and Guterres.

"We appeal to Israel to reconsider today's announcement," said Blokar, adding that "it is high time to strengthen the role of diplomacy and to prioritize peace."

South Korean envoy Joonkook Hwang also expressed support, and conveyed his "deep gratitude" to the secretary general for "his tireless efforts for peace in the Middle East."

Amar Bendjama noted Algeria’s "full solidarity admiration and support for the secretary general following the incredible decision of the Israeli occupying authorities to declare him persona non grata."

"This decision reflects a clear disdain of the UN system and the entire international community for the Israeli authorities," he said, adding that "no narrative, no truth exists except their own."

Switzerland, the current president of the Security Council, expressed "full support" to Guterres, and "the UN in collaboration with other organizations is currently providing humanitarian aid to all civilians."

Meanwhile, US envoy, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, notably avoided any mention of Guterres in her remarks.

"The United States is fully, fully, fully supportive of Israel," she said.

- Israel bans UN chief

Israel announced Wednesday that it declared UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres "persona non grata," banning his entry into the country after he demanded an urgent de-escalation in the Middle East.

Guterres was called out by Israel for not mentioning Iran by name in his statement Tuesday on a missile attack and not "directly condemning" Tehran.

After the missile strikes, Guterres said, "I condemn the broadening of the Middle East conflict with escalation after escalation," and urged for an immediate cease-fire.