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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West Asia crisis: Jaishankar holds 4th phone call with Iranian counterpart in 2 weeks
New Delhi (PTI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke to his Iranian counterpart Seyed Abbas Araghchi – their fourth such conversation since the West Asia crisis erupted – as New Delhi intensifies efforts to secure safe passage for over two dozen Indian-flagged merchant vessels currently stationed on either side of the Strait of Hormuz.
The two foreign ministers held the phone conversation on Thursday night.
Jaishankar and Araghchi spoke on February 28, soon after the US and Israel launched the attack on Iran that killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. They also spoke on March 5 and March 10.
"Had another conversation with Iranian FM @araghchi yesterday night. Discussed bilateral matters as also BRICS related issues," the external affairs minister said on social media.
The latest phone conversation came as India ramped up efforts to secure safe passage to the Indian-flagged merchant vessels through the strategic shipping route of Strait of Hormuz that has been partially blocked by Tehran following an escalation in its conflict with the US and Israel.
Global oil and gas prices have surged after Iran virtually blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow shipping lane between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman that handles roughly 20 per cent of global oil and LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas).
An Iranian readout said Araghchi briefed his Indian counterpart on the latest situation "resulting from the aggressions and crimes" committed by the US and Israel against Iran and its consequences on the stability and security of the region and the world.
It said the Iranian foreign minister emphasised to Jaishankar Tehran's firm will to exercise the "legitimate right to self-defence".
"Araghchi emphasised the need for international and regional forums and organisations to condemn military aggression against Iran," the readout said.
"Referring to the importance of the role and position of BRICS as a forum for developing multilateral cooperation, he considered it essential for this institution to play a constructive role at the current juncture to support stability and security in the region and the world," it added.
It said Araghchi emphasised the importance of finding a way to strengthen stability and a sustainable security environment in the region and called it a "collective need".
At an inter-ministerial media briefing, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India has conveyed to all sides to adopt the path of diplomacy and dialogue to resolve the conflict as soon as possible.
We are also talking to BRICS member states so that a consensus evolves on this issue, he said.
