In a rare move, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres invoked Article 99 of the UN Charter and formally referred the situation in Gaza to the UN Security Council, urging its members to “avert a humanitarian catastrophe” in the besieged enclave, CNN reported on Wednesday.
According to the report, Guterres delivered a letter to the Security Council President, Jose De La Gasca.
In his letter, Guterres said the conflict has created “appalling human suffering, physical destruction and collective trauma across Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”
According to CNN, in the closing paragraph of his letter, Guterres urged Security Council members to “press to avert a humanitarian catastrophe” and support his call for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.
Article 99 gives the secretary general the remit to “bring to the attention of the Security Council any matter which in his opinion may threaten the maintenance of international peace and security.”
Taking to X, Guterres posted, “I’ve just invoked Art.99 of the UN Charter – for the 1st time in my tenure as Secretary-General. Facing a severe risk of collapse of the humanitarian system in Gaza, I urge the Council to help avert a humanitarian catastrophe & appeal for a humanitarian ceasefire to be declared.” He claimed that the civilians in Gaza were facing grave danger, adding that over 15,000 civilians have been killed since the start of the Israeli operations. Over 40 per cent of whom were children. The health care system in Gaza is collapsing. Only 14 hospitals out of 36 facilities are even partially functional.Under these circumstances, more people will die untreated in the coming days and weeks