By invoking Article 99 for Gaza, UN Secretary-General has once again upset Israel
For the first time in his six-year term as Secretary-General, the UN Chief used Article 99 of the UN Charter.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has enraged Israel yet again. This time, Israel criticized the UN Secretary-General for invoking Article 99 of the UN Charter, paving the way for an unusual process with the UN Security Council.
For the first time in his six-year term as Secretary-General, the UN Chief used Article 99 of the UN Charter. Article 99 empowers the UN Secretary-General to “bring to the attention of the Security Council any matter which in his opinion may threaten the maintenance of international peace and security”.
In this particular case, Guterres has invoked Article 99 to draw attention to the escalating humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
“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,” Guterres said at the meeting.
The last time Article 99 was invoked was in 1989, to draw the attention of the UN Security Council to a “escalation in the military confrontation in and around Beirut, Lebanon.”
However, the UN Secretary-General’s decision has irritated Israel, which has pledged to continue its “full force” onslaught in Gaza until Hamas is “wiped out.”
Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen has expressed his displeasure with the UN Secretary-General. Cohen called Guterres’ position as UN Secretary-General a “danger to world peace” after citing the Article.
“Guterres’ tenure is a danger to world peace. His request to activate Article 99 and the call for a ceasefire in Gaza constitutes support of the Hamas terrorist organization,” Cohen said on the social networking site X.
Since the first day of the Israel-Hamas war, the UN Secretary-General has denounced the violent attack on Israel while also condemning for its “collective punishment of Palestinian civilians in Gaza.”
Guterres has repeatedly urged for an immediate humanitarian truce in Gaza and the flow of aid into the war-torn territory. Each time the UN Secretary-General has called for a cease-fire, has lambasted Guterres for “supporting Hamas and terrorism around the world.”
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