Guterres says Gazans stare ‘into the abyss’ UNSC calls for emergency session

Anjali Sharma

GG News Bureau
UNITED NATIONS , 9th Dec. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Friday urged the international community to help end carnage in Gaza with a humanitarian ceasefire. 

He stressed that the people of Gaza “are looking into the abyss”, he called on the international community to do “everything possible” to end their ordeal.

“I urge the Council to spare no effort to push for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, for the protection of civilians, and for the urgent delivery of lifesaving aid,” he said.

He recalled the importance of the two-State solution, based on UN resolutions and international law, with Israel and Palestine living side-by-side in peace and security.

“This is vital for Israelis, Palestinians, and for international peace and security. The eyes of the world and the eyes of history are watching,” he said.

Guterres reiterated his “unreservedly condemnation” of Hamas’ brutal attacks on Israel on 7 October, stressing that he is “appalled” by the reports of sexual violence.

“There is no possible justification for deliberately killing some 1,200 people, including 33 children, injuring thousands more, and taking hundreds of hostages,” he said.

He added “at the same time, the brutality perpetrated by Hamas can never justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.”

Mr. Guterres said “While indiscriminate rocket fire by Hamas into Israel and the use of civilians as human shields, are in contravention of the laws of war, such conduct does not absolve Israel of its own violations”.

He underscored that international humanitarian law includes the obligation to protect civilians and to ensure that civilians’ essential needs must be met, including by facilitating the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian relief.

He noted the catastrophic situation continues to worsen by the day.

Over 17,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of Israel’s military operations, including over 4,000 women and 7,000 children.

Thousands are reported to have been injured, and many are missing, presumably under the rubble.

Some 85 per cent of Gaza’s population has been displaced; hospitals, schools and UN facilities have been damaged or destroyed.

Mr. Guterres reported that tere is a serious risk of starvation and famine, noted that half the people in northern Gaza and more than one third of displaced people in the south are “simply starving”.

“Attacks from air, land and sea are intense, continuous and widespread,” he said.

Guterres added that people in Gaza “are being told to move like human pinballs – ricocheting between ever-smaller slivers of the south, without any of the basics for survival.”

He added that conditions for effective aid delivery ‘no longer exist’.

Guterres hailed the diplomatic community for their response to his invocation of Article 99 said he had written because “we are at breaking point” in the war between Israel and Palestinian militants.

“There is a high risk of the total collapse of the humanitarian support system in Gaza, which would have devastating consequences.”

He said public order could completely break down, increasing pressure for mass displacement across the border into Egypt.

 “I fear the consequences could be devastating for the security of the entire region”, he said.

He added that the Occupied West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen, had already been drawn in to the conflict to varying degrees.

There is clearly, in my view, a serious risk of aggravating existing threats to the maintenance of international peace and security”.

He said more than 130 of his colleagues had already been killed: “this is the largest single loss of life in the history of this Organisation. Some of our staff take their children to work so they know they will live or die together.”

Guterres said that despite this the UN is totally committed to stay and deliver for the people of Gaza.

He said the humanitarian situation however, was “simply becoming untenable.”

“The conditions for the effective delivery of humanitarian aid no longer exist.”

Council is expected to vote later in the day on a draft resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire as well as an immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.

The draft resolution reiterates the demand of the Council for all parties to comply with their obligations under international law, notably with regard to protection of civilians in both Palestine and Israel.

It do not represent an official position of the Security Council until it is being adopted.

Guterres in his letter to the Council members invoked Article 99 of the UN Charter, which grants him with the responsibility to “bring to the attention” of the Security Council any matter which in his opinion may threaten the maintenance of international peace and security.

Mr. Guterres had used the rarely invoked clause for the first time.

He wrote on X, “Facing a severe risk of collapse of the humanitarian system in Gaza, I urge the Council to help avert a humanitarian catastrophe & appeal for a humanitarian ceasefire to be declared,”, after dispatching the letter.

French Ambassador to the UN Nicolas de Rivière, reiterated his nation’s call for “a new, immediate and lasting humanitarian truce”, which must lead to a permanent ceasefire.

“We must act and continue our collective mobilization for the population of Gaza, he said.

He said that given the gravity of the situation, France deplored the decision of the Israeli authorities not to renew the visa of Lynn Hastings, the UN Resident Coordinator, who is now due to leave next week.  

“We must also put an end to Hamas actions and “it unacceptable that this Security Council has not yet been able to condemn these acts”, he reffreed to the terror acts of October 7. 

He said that Israel can count on France to fight against Hamas, with the other groups, must release all hostages they are holding inside Gaza, immediately and unconditionally. 

Ambassador de Rivière said that the situation in the West Bank is equally worrying. We reaffirm our strong condemnation of recent decisions regarding colonization and the violence carried out by settler groups against Palestinians.

He added that France is considering measures to ban travel and freeze assets. But “what is important now is to restore a political horizon, on the basis of the only viable solution”, that of two States living side by side in peace and security. 

Envoy stressed that President of France is fully committed and continues his discussions towards a resolution, with partners in the region. 

Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of the United States to the UN  Robert A. Wood said that the Security Council’s failure to condemn Hamas’ 7 October terrorist attacks including its acts of sexual violence and other unthinkable evils, is a serious moral failure.

“It underscores the fundamental disconnect between the discussions we have been having in this chamber and the realities on the ground,” he said.

He added that An “undeniable part of that reality” is that if Israel unilaterally laid down its weapons today, Hamas would continue to hold hostages.

Mr. Wood stated that as of today, Hamas continues to pose a threat to Israel and remain in charge of Gaza, stressing that no government would allow such as threat to

“For that reason, while the US strongly supports a durable peace in which both Israel and Palestine can live in peace and security, we do not support calls for an immediate ceasefire. This would only plant the seeds for the next war, because Hamas has no desire to see a durable peace, to see a two-State solution,” he said.

Mr. Wood said that Israel must respect international humanitarian law and conduct its operations in a way that minimizes civilian harm.

He emphasized that to back up these words and protect civilians, the US has supported to establish an effective humanitarian deconfliction mechanism with the UN, where it also monitors implementation.

“In every conversation we also have underscored that Israel must avoid further mass displacement of civilians in the south of Gaza, many of whom previously fled violence,” he said.

He added “Israel must further ensure sufficient humanitarian support exists for displaced individuals.”

Mr. Wood noted that civilians displaced in Gaza must have an opportunity to return as soon as conditions permit.

“There must be no enduring displacement or reduction in Gaza’s territory. Under no circumstances would the US support forced relocation of Palestinians from Gaza or the West Bank,” he said.

Chinese envoy a Zhang Jun paid tribute to the Secretary-General for his statement on the seriousness of the situation in Gaza. 

He added that the draft resolution submitted by the UAE reflects the call of the international community, which China supports and co-sponsors because only an immediate ceasefire will save lives and pave the way for the two-State solution.

Ambassador Zhang Jun warned “A larger crisis is imminent,” and regional peace and security is “on the precipice”. The world is watching. Member States must act.

Russia’s Deputy Permanent Representative, M. Polyansky, said that with the humanitarian pause, the parties got their break in hostilities and realized their tactical objectives but then Israel, with the “proactive support” of the United States, moved on to a new, even more bloody phase of its ground operation in Gaza.

He quoted from Guterres letter, emphasized the desperate conditions being faced by civilians. 

Polyanskysaid the Security Council has not adopted any clear, binding decision demanding – not calling – for the parties to stop the violence. 

The discussions here amount only to “empty words”, he said.

He said flooding Gaza with seawater by the Israeli military as a tactic of war, would amount to a war crime.

Russian envoy said today the Council has a good opportunity “to end to this abnormal situation and do what the international community expects of it” by passing a ceasefire resolution later today.

“We hope that all colleagues will find the strength and courage to adopt the draft resolution prepared by the United Arab Emirates, Mr. Polyansky added.

“Of course, we should not lose sight of the prospects for a Palestinian-Israeli settlement based on the “two-State formula,” which we consider to have no alternative, he added 

“We are ready to work on this, he said, but today, the primary task is to stop hostilities and “save Palestinian civilians from extermination.”

Mohamed Issa Abushahab, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of the UAE to the UN said that for many Gazans who have never left the enclave, “their entire world is systematically demolished before their eyes”.

He stated the Security Council must act on the crisis when too little aid is getting in and humanitarian workers are unable to deliver it for the fear of getting killed.

“Despite the recent temporary pause, the violence and danger to civilians has not abated, in fact this conflict has now graduated to a new and more dangerous phase,” he added.

He noted that the siege of Khan Yunis and other parts in southern Gaza has now started.

“There is literally no safe haven for the millions of people trapped and under attack,” the Ambassador said.

Israeli Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan said the globe has been reeling from the impact of Russia’s war on Ukraine. Yet not once, has Article 99 of the UN Charter been invoked by the current Secretary-General.

He cited other grinding conflicts which have destabilised entire regions.

Mr. Erdan said regional stability in the Middle East can “only be achieved once Hamas is eliminated”. Calling for a ceasefire would not achieve that end, he insisted.

He said that on 6 October, a ceasefire held, but the following day “thousands of Hamas Nazis” carried out a massacre the like of which has not been seen since the Holocaust.

Mr. Erdan said if Hamas was not destroyed, then atrocities would be carried out by the group “again and again”. Gazans have been forced to live in poverty, he said, and calling for a ceasefire would ensure that the suffering and the fighting will continue.

He said it sent a clear message: “that Hamas is forgiven for their deliberate atrocities, and Hamas’s oppression of Gazans is given a green light by the international community.”

Israeli ambassador said Hamas’s main weapon was terror and was seeking to “maximize civilian casualties” to put more and more pressure on Israel to relent. 

He said Hamas was the root cause of the situation in Gaza, and yet there has been “zero accountability for their evil”, questioning why Hamas was not being held responsible for its actions.

He said fuel tankers and medical supplies had been allowed into Gaza during the ceasefire by Israel, but Hamas had violated the terms of the truth, he added.

Israeli envoy said with 138 hostages still being held “Hamas has not even allowed the Red Cross to visit them and provide their families with the most basic sign of life. This is an abhorrent war crime”. 

He said Israel would continue with its mission, while supporting “every humanitarian initiative”, but the destruction of Hamas is the only option.

Permanent Observer of the Observer State of Palestine to the UN, Riyad Mansour outlined the impact of the strikes by Israel, said the bombardment “placed every possible impediment on humanitarian aid and access.”

“And we are all supposed to pretend that this aggression is not aimed at the destruction of the Palestinian people in the Gaza strip, when it has besieged and bombed our people and deprived them of all requirements of life?”, he said.

“I keep reading in the media that Israel has no clear war objectives, are we supposed to pretend that we don’t know the objective is the ethnic cleansing of the Gaza Strip?” he continued.

He said that if anyone says they are against the destruction and displacement of Palestinian people, they have to be in favour of an immediate ceasefire.

“When you refuse to call for a ceasefire, you are refusing to call for the only thing that can put an end to war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. This is how Israel is conducting the war, through atrocities,” Mr. Mansour said.

Mr. Mansour noted that the aim of the war by Israel is not security, but to “prevent for ever any prospect of Palestinian impudence and peace”.

“These intentions are clear in the Gaza Strip as well as in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem,” he said.

He underscored the universality of international law, stating that the “Israeli exceptionalism has to end, and it has to end now”.

“Stop rewriting international law to fit Israeli crimes and stop calling for respect for international law while supporting an assault that has torn it into shreds,” he said.

“The Palestinian people will not die in vain, the Palestinian people deserve respect … we have earned it, we have paid the heaviest price to end it … show us respect, not in words but in deeds, show us respect for our lives and our rights,” he concluded.