This marks the first time Guterres has exercised this power during his nearly seven-year tenure.

Article 99 empowers the secretary general to bring attention to any issue that "may threaten the maintenance of international peace and security."

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric described the invocation as "the most important" use of "the most powerful tool" available to the Secretary-General.

In a formal letter to the Security Council, Guterres outlined the alarming situation in Gaza, emphasizing the high rate of Palestinian fatalities and the collapse of healthcare services.

He warned of "potentially irreversible implications for Palestinians as a whole and for peace and security in the region."

Guterres provided grim statistics, stating: "Since the start of Israel's military operation, more than 15,000 people have reportedly been killed, over 40 percent of whom were children. Thousands of others have been injured. More than half of all homes have been destroyed, and some 80 percent of the population of 2.2 million have been forcibly displaced into increasingly smaller areas."

The Secretary General's urgent plea comes amid growing concerns about the escalating crisis in Gaza, emphasizing the need for immediate international intervention to address the unfolding humanitarian tragedy. (ILKHA)