Israel slams UN chief Guterres' invoking of rarely-used power to demand ceasefire in Gaza
calls his tenure 'danger to world peace'
Jerusalem, Dec 7: In a scathing criticism of UN chief Antonio Guterres, Israel on Thursday said his tenure "is a danger to world peace" after he used a rarely exercised power to warn the Security Council of an impending "humanitarian catastrophe" in Gaza and urged it to demand an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.
In a letter to the UN Security Council's 15 members on Wednesday, the UN Secretary-General said that Gaza's humanitarian system was at risk of collapse after two months of war that has created "appalling human suffering, physical destruction and collective trauma".
Demanding that the civilians be spared harm, Guterres invoked Article 99 of the UN Charter which says that the Secretary-General may inform the UNSC of matters he believes threaten international peace and security.
"The international community has a responsibility to use all its influence to prevent further escalation and end this crisis," the UN Secretary-General said.
Israel said Guterres' move was akin to support for the Hamas terror group and an endorsement of the dastardly acts carried by it in Israel on October 7.
Taking to social media platform X, formerly Twitter, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said that "Guterres' tenure is a danger to world peace".
"His request to activate Article 99 and the call for a cease-fire in Gaza constitutes support of the Hamas terrorist organisation and an endorsement of the murder of the elderly, the abduction of babies and the rape of women," Cohen wrote.
"Anyone who supports world peace must support the liberation of Gaza from Hamas", he emphasised.
This is the first time that Guterres has invoked Article 99 of the Charter since he became UN Secretary-General in 2017.
Invocation of Article 99 of the UN Charter has been a rare occurrence in the world body's 78-year-long existence.
According to the information provided by the UN, there have been 10 instances in the past when matters have been brought by the Secretaries-General to the Security Council on threats to international peace and security.
But Article 99 was mentioned specifically last time in a report by then Secretary-General U Thant on the situation in "East Pakistan"-- now Bangladesh. India had emerged victorious against Pakistan in the 1971 war, which led to the creation of Bangladesh.
Guterres’ tenure is a danger to world peace.
— אלי כהן | Eli Cohen (@elicoh1) December 6, 2023
His request to activate Article 99 and the call for a cease fire in Gaza constitutes support of the Hamas terrorist organization and an endorsement of the murder of the elderly, the abduction of babies and the rape of women.
Anyone who…
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Essar Group co-founder Shashi Ruia dies at 80
New Delhi (PTI): Essar Group co-founder Shashi Ruia has died after a prolonged illness. He was 80.
Ruia, who co-founded metals-to-technology conglomerate Essar with his brother Ravi, died in Mumbai around 23.55 hrs on November 25, family sources said.
He had returned from the US, where he was undergoing treatment, about a month back.
His mortal remains will be kept at Ruia House from 1 pm to 3 pm on Tuesday. The funeral procession will leave from Ruia House at 4 pm towards the Hindu Worli Crematorium.
Shashi, a first-generation entrepreneur industrialist, started his career in 1965 under the guidance of his father Nand Kishore Ruia.
He, along with his brother Ravi, laid the foundation of Essar in 1969 by constructing an outer breakwater at Chennai Port. The group expanded into various sectors, including steel, oil refining, exploration and production, telecom, power, and construction.
He is survived by his wife Manju and two sons Prashant and Anshuman.
