Relations between Israel and the United Nations hit an all-time low as the Secretary-General raises the alarm
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stirred the wrath of Israeli diplomats after he called for a ceasefire in Gaza, invoking a little-used UN Charter provision.
Article 99 of the UN Charter permits the Secretary-General to bring any matter that could threaten international peace and security to the attention of the Security Council. In a letter to the 15-member body, Guterres utilized this diplomatic tool and urged the council to exert every effort to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe, advocating for a comprehensive humanitarian ceasefire.
Israel has publicly opposed calls for a ceasefire and maintains its mission to eliminate Hamas, which it alleged had launched an attack on October 7, killing over 1,200 people and taking more than 240 hostages. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Ramallah, based on data from medical sources in the Gaza Strip, over 16,000 people have perished as a result of Israeli operations in Gaza.[1]
Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen criticized Guterres's letter, arguing that the Secretary-General's term was a threat to world peace and that his call for a ceasefire in Gaza equated to support for Hamas and the "Islamic State" on October 7. In response, Guterres's letter marks the seventh time Article 99 has been invoked since the United Nations' inception and the first instance since 1989 when the then-Secretary-General Javier Pérez de Cuellar urged the Security Council to convene for a ceasefire during the Lebanese Civil War.[2]
Responding to the crisis, UN analyst Daniel Foti, a senior fellow at the International Crisis Group in Brussels, stated that Guterres's action constituted a "symbolic slap" to encourage diplomatic efforts to prevent a humanitarian disaster in Gaza.[3]
Displaying Support for Palestine
In response to Guterres's call for a ceasefire, the UN Security Council is expected to convene a special meeting. The United Arab Emirates submitted a draft resolution to the Security Council in support of a humanitarian ceasefire.
The situation in Gaza has been volatile, with Palestinians and Hamas militants suffering from ongoing military action and the blockade that has put the humanitarian system at risk of collapse. Warning of impending disaster, Guterres invoked Article 99, urging an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and expressing concern for the catastrophic situation in Gaza.[3]
Protest and Backlash
Israel has criticized the UN's response to the conflict, with its ambassador in New York, Gilad Erdan, donning a yellow Star of David to protest against the UN's perceived inaction in response to Hamas's attacks. Additionally, Erdan and the foreign minister, Cohen, launched campaigns to discredit the UN Secretary-General and call for his resignation.
In his address to the Security Council in October, Guterres unequivocally condemned the Hamas attack and referred to Article 99. Protests ensued from Israeli diplomats, with Erdan demanding Guterres's resignation and threatening to deny visas to UN personnel as punishment for what he considered an unbalanced approach to the October 7 incident. Four Hamas officials, who were among those held captive, claimed that the UN Secretary-General's speech was used as justification for their continued imprisonment and the labeling of the UN as an institution promoting antisemitism.[4]
Cohen has refused to meet with Guterres, citing what he perceived as a lack of balance in response to the October 7 incident. Despite Cohen's public denunciations and the former Israeli ambassador Gabriela Shalev's calls for Guterres's resignation, the General Assembly has the sole authority to remove or necessitate the Secretary-General's resignation.[4]
The tension between Israel and the UN escalated during the conflict, with Israeli officials criticizing the UN's role in Palestinian affairs and accusing UN entities such as the World Health Organization, UN Women, and the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Staffan de Mistura, of anti-Israel bias.[1]
Enrichment Data:
The current state of relations between Israel and the United Nations is strained, particularly due to Israel's recent actions regarding the UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) and ongoing conflicts in Gaza.
Current State of Relations
- UNRWA Ban: Israel has issued a directive to UNRWA to cease operations in Jerusalem and evacuate all premises by January 30, 2025. This move is part of Israel's broader ban on UNRWA, which has been deemed illegal by international law. The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, has been urged to reject this demand and prevent Israel from taking over UNRWA's East Jerusalem headquarters, which could be transformed into a Jewish settlement.[1]
- Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza: The situation in Gaza remains dire, with a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas having been reached but frequently violated. The humanitarian system in Gaza is at risk of collapse due to ongoing military actions and the blockade, leading to severe suffering and displacement of civilians. UN Secretary-General Guterres has invoked Article 99 of the UN Charter to warn the Security Council of an impending humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, urging an immediate humanitarian cease-fire.[3]
UN Secretary-General's Action
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has taken a rare diplomatic action by invoking Article 99 of the UN Charter to inform the Security Council of matters that threaten international peace and security. This move is a response to the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where more than 16,200 people have been killed, and over 80% of Gaza's population has been displaced. Guterres warned of a potential collapse of the humanitarian system in Gaza, which would have irreversible implications for Palestinians and regional peace and security.[3]
Guterres's letter to the Security Council emphasized the need for an immediate humanitarian cease-fire and expressed grave concern over the catastrophic situation in Gaza. This action reflects the UN's efforts to address the escalating conflict and protect civilians from further harm.
Reactions
The reaction to Guterres's action has been mixed. Israel's UN Ambassador, Gilad Erdan, accused Guterres of bias and pressure tactics, suggesting that the call for a ceasefire is actually a call to keep Hamas's reign of terror in Gaza. In contrast, the Arab Group at the UN and other Arab nations have strongly backed a cease-fire, with a ministerial delegation from Arab nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation planning to meet U.S. officials to press for an immediate cease-fire.[3]
The United States, however, has not supported a cease-fire resolution, with U.S. Deputy Ambassador Robert Wood stating that a Security Council resolution at this time would not be useful.[3]
