As the conflict between Israel and the Islamist organization Hamas rages on, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Wednesday invoked Article 99 of the U.N. charter for the first time, claiming a “severe risk of collapse of the humanitarian system in Gaza.”
In correspondence with the current president of the United Nations Security Council, José Javier De la Gasca Lopez Domínguez, Guterres expressed his expectation that “public order to completely break down due to desperate conditions, rendering even limited humanitarian assistance impossible.”By using Article 99, the Secretary-General of the United Nations can draw the Security Council’s attention to “any matter which in his opinion may threaten the maintenance of international peace and security,” per the U.N.
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A “even worse” scenario, involving pandemic illnesses and mounting pressure to relocate displaced populations to neighboring nations, was foreshadowed by Guterres’ warnings.
The U.N. head, who has frequently urged for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas in the face of the growing death toll and devastation of Gaza, which Hamas has governed since 2007, has taken an unusual and noteworthy step with this letter.
A “even worse” scenario, involving pandemic illnesses and mounting pressure to relocate displaced populations to neighboring nations, was foreshadowed by Guterres’ warnings.
With the devastation of Gaza, which Hamas has governed since 2007, and the mounting death toll, the U.N. head has repeatedly urged for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. This letter is a rare and major gesture on the part of the chief.While assistance was able to enter the region during a week-long ceasefire last month, violence returned this past week, and according to Guterres, the present situation makes it “impossible” for humanitarian operations to be carried out successfully.
Guterres noted, “While delivery of supplies through Rafah continues, quantities are insufficient and have dropped since the pause came to an end. We are simply unable to reach those in need inside Gaza.”
Urging the Security Council to “push to avert a humanitarian catastrophe,” Guterres restated his “urgent appeal for a humanitarian cease-fire to allow the means of survival” to be restored and aid to be delivered to Gaza in a timely and safe manner.
