The UN Secretary-General has alerted the Security Council of an imminent "humanitarian catastrophe" in Gaza

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has employed his rarely used authority to caution the Security Council about an impending "humanitarian catastrophe" in Gaza. He urgently appealed to the council members to demand an immediate cessation of hostilities for the sake of humanitarian aid. In his letter to the council's 15 members, Guterres expressed grave concern that Gaza's humanitarian system is on the verge of collapse due to the devastating two-month-long conflict. This war has resulted in unimaginable human suffering, widespread destruction, and lasting collective trauma. Guterres emphasized the imperative to protect innocent civilians from further harm. Utilizing Article 99 of the UN Charter, which grants the secretary-general the power to inform the council of issues that pose a threat to international peace and security, Guterres underscored the responsibility of the international community to utilize all available means to prevent further escalation and resolve this crisis.