Antonio Guterres says the divisions throughout the UN Security Council are ‘dangerous’.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that the world is coming into into an “age of chaos” because the UN Security Council stays sharply divided over Israel’s conflict on Gaza.
Guterres stated he was “especially alarmed” after Israel stated final week that it intends to focus its navy assault in Gaza on the southern metropolis of Rafah, the place greater than one million individuals have sought shelter.
“Such an action would exponentially increase what is already a humanitarian nightmare with untold regional consequences,” he informed the UN General Assembly on Wednesday.
“It is time for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and the unconditional release of all hostages,” he added.
Israeli forces launched a devastating assault on Gaza with the purpose to “destroy” Hamas in response to the Palestinian group’s assault on southern Israel on October 7. At least 1,139 individuals had been killed within the Hamas assault, in line with an Al Jazeera tally primarily based on official Israeli figures.
Israel has since bombarded the territory relentlessly and launched a floor invasion, leaving a lot of Gaza in ruins. At least 27,708 individuals have been killed within the Israeli assault, in line with Palestinian authorities in Gaza, and greater than 80 p.c of the inhabitants has been displaced.
In his deal with on Wednesday, Guterres additionally known as for reforms to the Security Council, which has been unable to agree on a joint place on the conflict in Gaza regardless of calls from a number of UN companies for an pressing ceasefire.
“The United Nations Security Council – the primary platform for questions of global peace – is deadlocked by geopolitical fissures,” he stated.
“This is not the first time the Council has been divided – but it is the worst. Today’s dysfunction is deeper and more dangerous.”
Guterres added that in contrast to throughout the Cold War, when “well-established mechanisms helped manage superpower relations”, these mechanisms are gone “in today’s multipolar world”.
“Our world is entering an age of chaos … a dangerous and unpredictable free-for-all with total impunity,” he warned.
The UN chief urged world leaders to grab the “Summit of the Future” alternative, which might be held in September in New York on the sidelines of the annual General Assembly, to “shape multilateralism for years to come”.
He additionally talked about that as battle grows worldwide and humanitarian wants are “at an all-time high,” funding was not “keeping pace”.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/7/un-chief-warns-of-age-of-chaos-as-security-council-stays-divided-on-gaza?traffic_source=rss
