Pakistan has welcomed the invocation of Article 99 on Gaza by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Article 99 of the UN Charter gives the secretary-general the power to “bring to the attention of the Security Council any matter which in his opinion may threaten the maintenance of international peace and security”.

In a weekly press briefing today, Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahrah Baloch said: “Pakistan unequivocally condemns the attacks on Gaza in a flagrant violation of international law.”

She also called upon the UN Security Council to perform its “primary responsibility in calling for a ceasefire and protecting the people of Gaza”.

“The situation is fast deteriorating with irreversible damage for Palestine; such an outcome must be avoided.”