Two months into the war in Gaza, UN Secretary General Guterres has called for an immediate ceasefire in a letter to the UN Security Council. This intervention is by Article 99 of the UN Charter. The letter states that the eight-week war in Gaza has caused great suffering, loss of life and damage, including to women and children, and if this continues, a massive humanitarian disaster is imminent and therefore the UN Security Council has been requested to intervene.

It is estimated that 17,177 people died in the bombing and ground fighting, which continued without a break except for a brief pause in between. About 46,000 people are injured and undergoing treatment. As hospitals have also been destroyed in the war, thousands are living in hell without even getting treatment. Fighter jets and army tanks are continuously attacking Khan Yunis and surrounding areas. The fighting in southern Gaza is so severe that even ambulances cannot get through to take the wounded to hospital.

The intervention of the UN Secretary-General in this context will hopefully be welcomed by the majority of the countries of the world. However, most important to this intervention was the position of the member states of the Security Council, especially the United States, but disappointingly America vetoed the resolution. Israel has already retaliated adequately against the attacks by Hamas, but is proceeding with the aim of wiping Gaza off the map. This is the time for world nations including India to take a strong stand against this.

There is a limit to everything, even revenge. The continuation of the war even after that cannot be justified. The prolongation of the war will lead to many other consequences as well as endangering international peace and security. The UN chief requested the intervention of the Security Council in anticipation of this. This section was mentioned in the then Secretary General's report on December 3, 1971 regarding the atrocities committed by the Pakistan Army in East Pakistan. This is the first time this section has been used since Guterres took office in 2017. Israel has reacted sharply to this intervention of Guterres. Israel's Foreign Minister said that those who want world peace should support the liberation of Gaza from Hamas.

The flow of refugees that continues as part of the war is also out of control. Rafah, near the Egyptian border, is overflowing with refugees.
The Israel Air Force had distributed leaflets saying that only this place was safe. So the flow of refugees to that area continues. Guterres' plea will not bear fruit unless the United States withdraws from its opposition to the ceasefire. That is because the United States has exercised its veto power in the UN Security Council. In this context, neutral countries including India should come forward to put pressure on the United States to take a favourable stand to end the war.