In an unprecedented move, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has invoked Article 99 of the UN Charter, sending Israel-UN relations to an all-time low. The invocation, aimed at pushing for a ceasefire in Gaza, drew sharp criticism from Israeli diplomats, leading to a heated exchange between Guterres and Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen.
Article 99 grants the UN chief the authority to bring issues threatening international peace and security to the attention of the Security Council. Guterres, in a letter to the council, urged for immediate action to avert a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and called for a comprehensive humanitarian ceasefire.
This marks the seventh time in the UN’s 78-year history that Article 99 has been invoked and the first since 1989. UN analyst Daniel Forti described Guterres’ move as a “symbolic punch,” a plea for diplomatic action to prevent Gaza from reaching a point of no return.
Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen condemned Guterres, accusing him of endangering world peace and supporting Hamas. Cohen argued that Guterres’ call for a ceasefire equated to endorsing the October 7 attack.
As tensions escalate, the Security Council is set to convene an emergency meeting to address the crisis. The UAE has submitted a draft resolution calling for an urgent humanitarian ceasefire, with support from Arab and Islamic nations.
Former Israeli Ambassador to the UN, Gabriela Shalev, described the current state of Israel-UN relations as a “historic low.” She emphasized a perceived lack of understanding within UN organizations worldwide regarding Israel’s existential threat and its struggle as a Jewish and democratic state.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani to discuss ongoing efforts to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas. Qatar, a key broker in a previous agreement, saw the release of an initial group of hostages, but the deal collapsed last week.
Blinken expressed gratitude for Qatar’s efforts in securing hostage releases and acknowledged the recent humanitarian pause in Gaza during his meeting with Al Thani. The discussions also touched upon preventing the conflict from spreading and ensuring continued humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza.
Blinken is set to meet with a delegation of Arab ministers later, further underscoring the international efforts to address the escalating crisis.