100+ states sign letter of support to Guterres after Israeli decision
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The letter denounces "Israel's" declaration of the UN Secretary-General as persona non grata and asserts that such actions undermine the UN's ability to fulfill its mandate.
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United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres speaks at the 14th ASEAN-United Nations Summit during the 44th and 45th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summits in Vientiane on October 11, 2024. (AFP)
A group of 105 countries have endorsed a letter initiated by Chile in support of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, following his designation as persona non grata by the Israeli occupation government, the Prensa Latina news agency reported on Friday.
The Chilean mission to the United Nations spearheaded this initiative, which received initial backing from Brazil, Colombia, South Africa, Uganda, Indonesia, Spain, Guyana, and Mexico, according to the Chilean Foreign Ministry.
The letter denounces the decision made by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, asserting that such actions undermine the UN's ability to fulfill its mandate, which includes mediating conflicts and providing humanitarian assistance.
According to Chile, the overwhelming support from 105 nations reflects the international community’s acknowledgment of Guterres’ efforts and the UN's role, as well as Chile’s leadership in the multilateral arena.
The Israeli government's stance against the UN Secretary-General could further impede efforts to end hostilities and establish a credible pathway toward a two-state solution, the letter warned, urging respect for the UN's leadership and mission.
The letter underscored that in a period marked by heightened tensions in the Middle East, the role of the Secretary-General is crucial for fostering dialogue and promoting peace and understanding among conflicting parties, as well as encouraging friendly relations between states.
Elsewhere, the letter asserted that constructive cooperation with the United Nations is essential for addressing current challenges and achieving a peaceful future.
Why was Guterres declared persona non-grata?
Guterres was declared persona non grata by Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz, who called him an "anti-Israel secretary-general who lends support to terrorists, rapists, and murderers," for not strongly condemning Iran's retaliatory attack against "Israel".
"Anyone who cannot unequivocally condemn Iran's heinous attack on Israel does not deserve to step foot on Israeli soil," Katz said in a statement, referring the Tehran's Operation True Promise II on October 1 in retaliation for the Israeli assassination of Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, and IRGC General Abbas Nilforoushan.
Operation True Promise II saw Iran launching at least 200 ballistic missiles against Israeli military and intelligence facilities across the occupied Palestinian territories.
But that same day, at a tense emergency Security Council meeting on escalating tensions in the region, Guterres did say after the ban, "I again strongly condemn yesterday's massive missile attacks by Iran on Israel."
Read more: UN: 'Israel' saying Guterres persona non grata is attack on UN staff
