UN Secretary-General Invokes Rarely Used UN Charter Article to Stop War in Gaza

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Wednesday invoked a rarely used article in the UN Charter to call on the UN Security Council to “press to avert a humanitarian catastrophe” in Gaza, UN News reports.

Article 99 in Chapter XV of the Charter provides that the sitting UN Secretary-General “may bring to the attention of the Security Council any matter which, in his opinion, may threaten the maintenance of international peace and security.”

In a letter to the UN Security Council dated December 6, 2023, Guterres first condemned the “abhorrent acts of terror by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups” during the Oct. 7 attack on Israel. He also said the remaining 130 Israeli hostages in Gaza “must be immediately and unconditionally released.” He then went on to the focus of his letter: the “grave danger” facing Gaza civilians since Israel’s defensive military operation against Hamas began.

“Since the start of Israel’s military operation, more than 15,000 people have reportedly been killed, over 40 percent of whom were children,” Guterres began. “Thousands of others have been injured. More than half of all homes have been destroyed. Some 80 percent of the population of 2.2 million has been forcibly displaced into increasingly smaller areas.”

Asserting there is “nowhere is safe in Gaza,” Guterres continued: “Amid constant bombardment by the Israel Defense Forces, and without shelter or the essentials to survive, I expect public order to completely break down soon due to the desperate conditions, rendering even limited humanitarian assistance impossible. An even worse situation could unfold, including epidemic diseases and increased pressure for mass displacement into neighboring countries.”

Guterres concluded by calling on the international community to take action. “The international community has a responsibility to use all its influence to prevent further escalation and end this crisis,” Guterres said. “I urge the members of the Security Council to press to avert a humanitarian catastrophe. I reiterate my appeal for a humanitarian ceasefire to be declared.”

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