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…
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Telangana teen dies by suicide after losing Rs 1 lakh in online betting
Hyderabad: An 18-year-old youth from Telangana’s Sangareddy district died by suicide after allegedly losing Rs 1 lakh on an online betting application, police said.
According to report published by NDTV on Friday, the deceased, identified as Vikram, was a resident of the Kandukur area. According to police, he consumed insecticide after suffering heavy financial losses through online betting. Vikram's family saw him taking the extreme step and rushed him to a hospital, where he died while undergoing treatment. The police have registered a case.
This is not an isolated case. Just a few weeks ago, a taxi driver in Hyderabad died by suicide after accumulating massive debts due to online betting apps.
The victim, Paladugu Sai (24) from Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri district, had reportedly been addicted to betting for nearly two years. He borrowed money from friends, relatives and banks, and was facing debts of around Rs 15 lakh at the time of his death. He too consumed pesticide and died during treatment.
Meanwhile, another similar case was reported from Madhya Pradesh recently. A 32-year-old civil contractor allegedly died by suicide in his house in Bhopal last week after losing nearly Rs 30 lakh in an online game. Police recovered a note from his house stating that he had taken loans to play an online game called Aviator. A case has been registered in that matter as well.
Police and experts have repeatedly warned about the rising menace of online betting and gaming platforms, urging people especially youth to stay away from such activities and seek help in case of addiction or financial distress.
(Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the state’s health helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416.)
