The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs demonstrated this Thursday his support for the UN Secretary General by asking the UN Security Council to declare a ceasefire to avoid “a total collapse of the humanitarian situation in Gaza” .
“I call on the European Union members of the UN Security Council and like-minded partners to support the call of the UN Secretary General, António Guterres,” said Josep Borrell on the social network’s official account. x.
Good exchange on the phone with Indonesia FM @Menlu_RI on our efforts to address the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, following the call of the UN Secretary-General @antonioguterres.
The international community must commit to achieving lasting peace in the Middle East. @OIC_OCI
– Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) December 7, 2023
“The United Nations Security Council must act immediately to prevent the total collapse of the humanitarian situation in Gaza,” he added.
Borrell also called on Israel to “allow all UN agencies, including humanitarian and resident coordinator Lynn Hastings, to provide urgent support to civilians in Gaza.”
It is the first time, since he began his mandate in 2017, that António Guterres invokes article 99 of the United Nations Charter, which establishes that the Secretary General “may draw the attention of the Security Council to any matter that may threaten the maintenance of peace and security in the world”.
Israel has been carrying out a major ground offensive in the Gaza Strip since October 27, after three weeks of intense bombing, in response to the attack carried out by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in southern Israel on October 7, which killed more than 1,200 people. ., mostly civilians, 5,000 injured and about 240 hostages.
Israeli military operations have already caused more than 16,000 deaths in the Gaza Strip, 70% of whom are women and children, according to the Hamas-supervised Health Ministry.
Source: TSF
