Urgent Call for UN Protection Force in Palestine Amid Escalating Crisis
An international protection force is urgently needed in Palestine as Israeli actions are reportedly making Palestinian existence increasingly impossible.
The situation in Palestine has reached a critical point, with calls for an urgent deployment of an international protection force due to Israel's actions, which are reportedly making Palestinian existence increasingly impossible. This force would aim not only to prevent violence but also to safeguard Palestinian schools, hospitals, and livelihoods.
Highlights
- A war in Gaza has reportedly killed over 74,000 people, with tens of thousands more at risk of excess deaths.
- In the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, mechanisms of destruction include settler and military violence, and forced displacement.
- The Palestinian economy is severely damaged, with approximately 81% of structures in Gaza destroyed and 1.9 million people displaced.
- Healthcare and education systems are on the verge of collapse, with only 19 of 36 hospitals in Gaza partially functional and 98% of schools damaged.
- The UN General Assembly could recommend collective measures, including the use of force, under the "Uniting for Peace" resolution if the Security Council is paralyzed.
Details
The ongoing colonization of Palestinian land has accelerated, particularly since October 2023, severely impacting Palestinian life. Access to housing, healthcare, education, and livelihoods is under severe threat. In Gaza, most hospitals and schools are non-functional, while in the West Bank, hospitals face underfunding and schools are under demolition orders.
Economically, Palestinians face dire circumstances. Unemployment in Gaza exceeds 90%, and in the West Bank, it has doubled since 2023, reaching 29.5% in 2026. Israel's withholding of tax revenues from the Palestinian Authority (PA) further cripples the PA's ability to provide services, directly affecting the Palestinian community's capacity to sustain itself.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ruled that Israel's occupation of Palestinian land is illegal and that Israel has an obligation to facilitate aid access into the Gaza Strip. These rulings provide a legal basis for deploying a protective force. A coalition of states, potentially including South Africa, the Arab League, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, could bring this matter to the UN General Assembly.
Why it matters
The deployment of an international protection force in Palestine is seen as an urgent necessity to preserve the social, economic, and cultural foundations of Palestinian civilian life. The current situation prevents Palestinians from accessing basic rights such as housing, food, healthcare, and education, while subjecting them to constant violence. This force must have the authority to prevent attacks, not just document them, and establish a physical buffer between communities and settlers. This step is considered crucial for the survival of the Palestinian people, independent of any eventual political settlement.