Will Guterres’s utilization of UN’s Article 99 lead to peace in Israel’s conflict with Gaza? : Analysis

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has utilized Article 99 of the UN Charter to formally alert the Security Council about the global threat posed by Israel’s war on Gaza. Guterres has been urging for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire since October 18, however, the Security Council has yet to adopt a resolution regarding the matter due to conflicts among permanent members.

Article 99 grants the secretary-general the power to convene a meeting of the Security Council independently to issue warnings about new threats to international peace and security. This enables Guterres to speak at the Security Council without requiring an invitation from a member state.

In a letter addressed to the Security Council, Guterres expressed concern about their inaction and the deteriorating situation in Gaza. He warned about the potential breakdown of public order, the collapsing humanitarian system, and the lack of protection for civilians. Guterres emphasized the catastrophic consequences for Palestinians and regional peace and security.

Despite Guterres’s invocation of Article 99, the ability to adopt a resolution lies with the Security Council, which is subject to the veto power held by its five permanent members, including the US and Russia. The US vetoed a previous resolution, undermining efforts to reach a ceasefire.

The use of Article 99 has had mixed results in the past, failing to bring about lasting peace. It does not fundamentally alter the political calculations of the Security Council’s most powerful members. Previous invocations of Article 99 during conflicts, such as in the Congo (1960), East Pakistan (1971), Iran (1979), and Lebanon (1989), did not result in peace either.

Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, criticized Guterres for his call for a ceasefire, accusing him of bias against Israel and defending Hamas. Erdan called on Guterres to resign.

As this situation develops, it is important to consider the reliability of sources and the potential biases that may influence the public’s perception. The inclusion of biased statements from one side of the conflict, without further context or counterarguments, could contribute to a nuanced understanding of the topic. Additionally, readers may interpret and contextualize the information presented based on their existing biases and beliefs, influenced by the political landscape and the prevalence of fake news.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has utilized Article 99 of the UN Charter to formally alert the Security Council about the global threat posed by Israel’s war on Gaza. Guterres has been urging for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire since October 18, however, the Security Council has yet to adopt a resolution regarding the matter due to conflicts among permanent members. The United States, Israel’s main supporter, has vetoed one resolution, while Russia, who is more critical of Israel, has blocked another.

Article 99 is a unique power granted to the secretary-general in the UN Charter. It allows the secretary-general to convene a meeting of the Security Council independently to issue warnings concerning new threats to international peace and security, even if they are not yet on the council’s agenda. This grants Guterres the right to speak at the Security Council without requiring an invitation from a member state.

In a letter addressed to the Security Council, Guterres expressed his dismay at their lack of action and highlighted the deteriorating situation in Gaza. He warned of the potential breakdown of public order in Gaza, the complete collapse of the humanitarian system, and the absence of effective protection for civilians. He emphasized that nowhere in Gaza is safe and called the situation a catastrophe with profound implications for Palestinians and regional peace and security.

While the Security Council has the authority to implement a ceasefire resolution, including the power to impose sanctions or authorize the deployment of an international force, Article 99 does not provide Guterres the ability to force the council to adopt a resolution. The Security Council’s five permanent members, China, Russia, the US, the UK, and France, hold the veto power, meaning that a substantive resolution can only be adopted if each of these members chooses not to veto it.

The US exercised its veto power on October 18 and blocked a resolution condemning Hamas’s attack on Israel while calling for a pause in the fighting to allow humanitarian assistance into Gaza. Despite being designed as a preventive tool, Article 99 has been invoked after conflicts have already escalated, including in the war on Gaza. Its use has had mixed results in the past, as it has not fundamentally altered the political calculations of the Security Council’s most powerful members.

In response to Guterres’s invocation of Article 99, Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, criticized Guterres, accusing him of bias against Israel and defending Hamas. Erdan called on Guterres to resign.

Analysis:
The article presents factual information regarding the utilization of Article 99 by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to highlight the global threat posed by Israel’s war on Gaza. It explains the purpose and powers associated with Article 99, as well as the political dynamics within the Security Council that have affected the adoption of a ceasefire resolution. The article also provides historical examples of the use of Article 99 and notes that its past invocations have not resulted in lasting peace.

The sources cited in the article include Antonio Guterres, statements from the UN, and opinions from Anthony Arend, a professor at Georgetown University, and Daniel Forti, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group. These sources contribute to the credibility of the information presented.

However, the article does not provide specific evidence or data to support the claims made regarding the number of casualties in Gaza or the breakdown of the humanitarian system. The statements from Israel’s ambassador to the UN accusing Guterres of bias against Israel are presented without further context or counterarguments.

Overall, this article appears to provide a balanced presentation of the situation, relying on credible sources and factual information. However, the lack of specific evidence and the inclusion of biased statements from one side of the conflict could potentially contribute to a nuanced understanding of the topic. The impact of this information may be influenced by the political landscape and the prevalence of fake news, as readers may interpret and contextualize the presented information based on their existing biases and beliefs.

Source: Aljazeera news: Israel’s war on Gaza: Can Guterres’s use of UN’s Article 99 bring peace?