Israel-Hamas: UN security council to vote on ceasefire as Guterres invokes rare law

The United Nations (UN) security council will vote on urging an immediate ceasefire in Gaza after two months of war between Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian militant group.

The council is expected to cast their votes on Friday after facing immense pressure from Antonio Guterres, UN secretary-general.

In a rare move, Guterres invoked Article 99 of the UN charter, in a letter sent to the president of the security council on Wednesday, urging the committee to declare a ceasefire.

Article 99 states that the secretary-general may bring to the attention of the security council “any matter which, in his opinion, may threaten the maintenance of international peace and security”.

Guterres, who is serving his second tenure as the body’s secretary-general, has never invoked the article since he assumed his role as the UN’s top diplomat.

Also, the last time Article 99 was invoked was during fighting in 1971 that led to the creation of Bangladesh and its separation from Pakistan.

After Guterres’ letter, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Arab representative on the security council, circulated a short resolution to the council members which would call for a vote during the meeting today.

But the outcome of a vote is not clear — four earlier drafts presented since the war broke out were rejected by the security council.

The fresh draft was amended to say both “the Palestinian and Israeli civilian populations must be protected in accordance with international humanitarian law” and to “demand the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages”.

A resolution needs at least nine votes in favour and no vetoes by the five permanent members — the United States, Russia, China, France or the UK — to be adopted.

The US, Israel’s most powerful ally, which vetoed one of the earlier draft resolutions and rejects the idea of a ceasefire, has said a new resolution from the council at this stage would not be “useful”.

This could signal a likely veto, but the US has not argued either way.