Portugal’s PM sticks up for António Guterres following Israel’s condemnation

Portuguese prime minister António Costa has sent a message of solidarity to UN secretary-general António Guterres, considering that, in the face of the “humanitarian tragedy”, he has been “exemplary” in his humanist affirmation of international law. Mr Costa’s message, relayed to Lusa news agency from a source within the PS executive, follows the dramatic fall-out of Mr Guterres’ speech at the UN security council yesterday. Mr Guterres has since said he is “shocked” by the “poor interpretation” of his words, while reports claim Britain’s Secretary of State for Immigration has come into the mix, saying he thinks Mr Guterres was wrong to say what he said: “No-one, whether deliberately or otherwise, should be implying there is any justification” for Hamas’ “appalling act of evil terrorism”, said Robert Jenrick. If Mr Guterres’ remarks were intended to imply this, he should retract them, said the British MP. Evening news bulletins carried this incident under the headline “Israel indignant; António Guterres indignant over indignation”…