New York: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres pledged that he would “not give up” on appealing for a humanitarian ceasefire in war-ravaged Gaza, adding that inaction on the part of the Security Council was undermining its credibility.
“The preeminent forum for the peaceful resolution of international disputes is paralyzed by geostrategic divisions”, he told the Doha Forum taking place in Qatar, following Friday’s meeting in New York during which the United States vetoed a resolution demanding that Israel and Palestinian militants end the intense fighting across the enclave which erupted on 7 October, according to a press release issued at UN Headquarters in New York.
Nearly 18,000 Palestinians have so far been killed and 49,500 wounded in deadly Israeli bombardments, including 297 in the past 24 hours. “I urged the Security Council to press to avert a humanitarian catastrophe and I reiterated my appeal for a humanitarian ceasefire to be declared”, said the UN chief.
“Regrettably the Security Council failed to do it but that does not make it less necessary. So, I can promise I will not give up”, he told delegates to the global platform in Qatar, which brings world leaders together to discuss collective security and other challenges.
He said a sclerotic Security Council where splits between the permanent members, China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the US have produced only one resolution narrowly focused on aid delivery, needed reform.
“We need a serious effort to bring global structures up to date, rooted in equality and solidarity and based on the United Nations Charter and international law”, he said noting that the Council’s divisions were “undermining solutions from Ukraine to Myanmar and the Middle East.”
The terror attacks by Hamas and resulting “relentless bombardment” of Gaza, have only produced a single resolution “which I welcome. But that delay comes at a cost”, he added. “And the resolution is not being implemented”.
