The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, has expressed his concerns over the impact of the current conflict in Gaza on global peace and security. He has warned that the dire conditions in the region, under constant bombardment by Israel, could lead to a complete breakdown of public order.
Guterres has invoked Article 99 of the UN Charter and sent a letter to the President of the UN Security Council to bring attention to the situation. This article allows the Secretary-General to alert the council about any matter that, in his opinion, poses a threat to international peace and security.
In the letter, Guterres stated that the humanitarian conditions in Gaza are rapidly deteriorating and could lead to a catastrophe with irreversible consequences for the Palestinian people. He urged the Security Council to take action to prevent this outcome from happening.
This is the first time Guterres has invoked Article 99 since becoming Secretary-General in 2017. The presidency of the Security Council is currently held by Ecuador.
Guterres appealed to the Security Council members to work towards averting a humanitarian crisis and called for a humanitarian ceasefire to be declared. He emphasized that the health care system in Gaza is collapsing, and civilians are not being effectively protected.
The Secretary-General noted that the current conditions make it impossible for meaningful humanitarian operations to take place. He stressed that nowhere in Gaza is safe, and the situation is threatening peace and security in the region.
Guterres urged that a ceasefire be agreed upon so that basic supplies can be restored and humanitarian assistance can be delivered safely and quickly across the Gaza Strip.
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