Title: UN Secretary-General Urges Security Council to Address Gaza Conflict; Unlikely to Shift Major Powers’ Stance
In a press statement, Antonio Guterres, the United Nations Secretary-General, has called upon the Security Council to take immediate action in response to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Citing Article 99 of the UN Charter, Guterres emphasized his duty to draw attention to matters that may threaten international peace and security.
Expressing deep concern over the deteriorating situation in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, Guterres warned that the conflict could exacerbate existing threats to global peace and security. He has been advocating for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire since October 18, shedding light on the appalling human suffering in the region.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has responded to Guterres’s plea by submitting a new draft resolution urgently calling for a humanitarian ceasefire. The UAE’s submission emphasizes the catastrophic and potentially irreversible state of affairs in Gaza, thereby underlining the crucial nature of prompt action.
The potential adoption of a ceasefire resolution by the Security Council comes with the power to enforce implementation through measures such as sanctions or international force deployment. However, the resolution’s fate remains uncertain as the council’s five permanent members possess veto power. This poses a potential obstacle in achieving a consensus on the matter.
Guterres warned that the ongoing strife in Gaza could lead to a breakdown in public order and even the complete collapse of humanitarian systems in the region. He stressed that the situation is rapidly deteriorating into a catastrophe, carrying potential lasting consequences for Palestinians and regional peace and security.
Unsurprisingly, Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, criticized Guterres’s recourse to Article 99. Erdan accused the Secretary-General of showcasing a “moral distortion” and biased behavior against Israel. It is important to note that the Secretary-General’s powers, including the invocation of Article 99, are limited by the UN Charter, which designates the role as the UN’s Chief Administrative Officer, elected by member states.
While Guterres’s use of Article 99 signifies the gravity of the situation, it is unlikely to significantly alter the political calculations of the Security Council’s most potent members. As the conflict in Gaza continues, global attention remains keenly focused on the deliberations within the Security Council, waiting to see if a resolution will be adopted to address the urgent crisis at hand.
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