Gaza: UN chief demands truce

Antonio Guterres invokes Article 99 of UN Charter, warns UN Security Council of humanitarian catastrophe

• The figures come a day before the Fed is set to make a decision on whether to raise rates for an 11thstraight meeting

UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres used a rarely exercised power to warn the Security Council on Wednesday of an impending "humanitarian catastrophe" in Gaza and urged its members to demand an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.

His letter to the council's 15 members said Gaza's humanitarian system was at risk of collapse after two months of war that has created "appalling human suffering, physical destruction and collective trauma," and he demanded civilians be spared greater harm.

Guterres invoked Article 99 of the UN Charter, which says the secretary-general may inform the council of matters he believes threaten international peace and security. "The international community has a responsibility to use all its influence to prevent further escalation and end this crisis," he said.