UN Security Council backs Guterres as Israel declares him persona non grata

In response to the Israeli decision to declare the UN Secretary-General persona non grata, the UN Security Council has expressed its full support for Antonio Guterres. This is stated in a statement presented to the press.Member countries should maintain fruitful and effective relations with the Secretary-General without admitting any actions that undermine his work and the work of his office, the document reads. It is especially stressed that refusal to cooperate with the Secretary-General is counterproductive, especially as tensions continue to escalate in the Middle East.Earlier, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz banned Antonio Guterres from entering Israel and declared him persona non grata because the UN Secretary-General did not condemn Tehran's bombing of the Jewish state. According to the foreign minister, "anyone who is unable to unequivocally condemn Iran's criminal attack on Israel does not deserve to set foot on the land of the Jewish state."Source: Burkina Information Agency