Recent reports that the US is drafting a resolution at the UN that seeks Security Council backing for an international force in Gaza reveal that much about this critical project remains unclear. Given the importance of stabilising the enclave and protecting its people, such a lack of clarity must not linger long.
Speaking in the Qatari capital Doha yesterday, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres stated that this potential force must have Security Council approval. Without international consensus, there is a risk of repeating past mistakes. The violent recklessness displayed by the American and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation during its aid delivery efforts earlier this year is a case in point.
Ambiguity can be a useful quality in political negotiations. Still, there is no room for it when it comes to something as complex as establishing an international armed force in a highly volatile situation such as Gaza. Ceasefire monitoring, civilian protection and demining are just some of the important areas where peacekeepers can make a real difference – but this taskforce must have a Security Council mandate that is crystal clear about its role and responsibilities.
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