The United Nations activating Article 99 of its charter ignites Israel’s anger

The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres sent a letter to the Security Council regarding Gaza, referring, for the first time since he assumed the Secretariat, to Article 99 of the Charter of the International Organization.

He said in his letter that the war in Gaza “may lead to an exacerbation of existing threats to international peace and security”.

On Wednesday, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen considered the mandate of United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres a “threat to world peace” after he sent a letter to the Security Council about Gaza to activate Article 99 of the organization’s charter.

Israeli Foreign Minister Cohen wrote on X, “Guterres’ mandate poses a threat to world peace,” noting that “his request to activate Article 99 and call for a ceasefire in Gaza constitutes support for the Hamas terrorist organization and an endorsement of the killing of the elderly and the kidnapping of children, and rape of women”.

He wrote “Whoever supports world peace must support the liberation of Gaza from Hamas”.

Guterres relied on Article 99 of the United Nations Founding Charter, which is rarely used, and which authorizes him to draw the attention of the Security Council to any issue that he considers may threaten the protection of international peace and security.

Guterres wrote on X, “In the face of the grave danger of the collapse of the humanitarian system in Gaza, I urge the Security Council to help avoid a humanitarian catastrophe and I call for the declaration of a humanitarian ceasefire… The situation may become worse with the spread of epidemics and increasing pressure for mass movements towards neighboring countries”.

He pointed out that while the humanitarian aid passing through the Rafah crossing is insufficient, we are simply unable to reach those who need aid inside Gaza.

Guterres added, “The capabilities of the United Nations and its partners in the humanitarian field have been undermined by supply shortages, fuel shortages, communications outages, and increasing absence of security”.

Guterres warned, “We face a great danger of the collapse of the humanitarian system…. The situation is rapidly deteriorating towards a catastrophe that may have irreversible consequences for the Palestinians and for peace and security in the region”.

He added, “The international community bears the responsibility to use its influence to prevent a new escalation and put an end to this crisis”.

Guterres called on members of the Security Council to exert pressure to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe.

Guterres’ spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, commented that the Secretary-General refers to one of the rare powers granted to him by the Charter, speaking of a very significant step because Article 99 has not been resorted to for decades.

He added, “We want to see the Security Council calling for… A humanitarian ceasefire”.

In mid-November, after rejecting 4 draft resolutions, the Security Council finally broke its silence and adopted a resolution in which it called for truces and humanitarian aid corridors in the Gaza Strip.

Diplomatic sources reported that Security Council members are working on a new draft resolution focusing on humanitarian aid.

Two months after the outbreak of war in the Gaza Strip, the United Nations previously warned of a more terrifying scenario in the Strip, which humanitarian operations may be unable to deal with.