In a move aimed at compelling the paralyzed Security Council to take action on the Gaza situation, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres invoked an infrequently utilized provision of the Charter on Wednesday. He drew attention to the imminent "human catastrophe" in a letter to Council President Javier Dominguez, citing Article 99 of the United Nations Charter. Guterres expressed his concern that the current conditions could exacerbate threats to international peace and security.
"I call upon the Security Council members to act swiftly to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe," Guterres emphasized. He reiterated his plea for a humanitarian ceasefire, warning that continuous bombardment by the Israel Defence Forces, coupled with the lack of shelter and essential supplies, could lead to a breakdown of public order, making even limited humanitarian assistance impossible.
Guterres's spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, characterized the use of Article 99 as a "significant move," describing it as a constitutional action and the exercise of the Secretary-General's primary authority under the Charter. Article 99 allows the Secretary-General to bring to the Security Council's attention any matter that, in their opinion, may threaten international peace and security.
This marked only the third direct invocation of Article 99, the most recent occurring 34 years ago in 1989 by Javier Perez de Cuellar during the fighting in Lebanon. While Secretaries-General have previously alerted the Council to crises without explicitly citing the article, Article 99 offers the Secretary-General a unique avenue to highlight potential threats.
Secretary-General Guterres lacks direct powers to intervene in crises or take action against countries; such authority resides solely with the Security Council under the Charter. Dujarric anticipated that the Council, led by Ecuador this month, would convene to address the letter, with Guterres likely providing additional insights.
Following the veto of four resolutions on Gaza, the Council recently managed to pass one last month, advocating for a "humanitarian pause" rather than a ceasefire. In his letter, Guterres reiterated his call for a ceasefire, emphasizing the need to bring an indefinite end to the hostilities, as opposed to a limited pause.
Guterres highlighted the dire consequences of the eight weeks of fighting, causing immense human suffering, physical destruction, and collective trauma across Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory. He condemned the 7/10 Hamas terrorist attack on Israel, revealing grim statistics of casualties, hostages, and sexual assaults. Retaliatory attacks, he noted, led to a significant death toll, with a substantial portion being children, and forced the displacement of 80% of the population of 2.2 million in Gaza.
(With Agency Inputs)
Read also| Kevin McCarthy Announces Resignation from Congress, Opts Out of 2024 Re-Election Bid
