New Armed Forces Could Be An Option To Protect Palestinians, Says UN Chief

Antonio Guterres speaking to Journalists at the UN headquarters on August 10. (Picture: PA Images)

The United Nations Secretary-General has said in a new report there a number of ways to protect Palestinian civilians under Israeli occupation

Antonio Guterres said the options could include setting up an armed military or police force or beefing up UN presence on the ground.

But he stressed every option would require the co-operation of Israelis and Palestinians.

The UN General Assembly requested the report in a resolution adopted in June which condemned Israel for excessive force against Palestinian civilians and denounced the firing of rockets from Gaza into Israeli civilian areas.

It asked the secretary-general for proposals to protect Palestinian civilians and recommendations.

In the 14-page report, Mr Guterres said the combination of more than 50 years of Israeli military occupation was "highly complex".

He has also called on the 193 nations in the General Assembly to explore "all practical and feasible measures that will significantly improve the protection of the Palestinian population", adding the measures "would also improve the security of Israeli civilians".

Mr Guterres outlined four options, but he did not make a specific recommendation:

1. A more robust UN Presence on the Ground: He said additional UN human rights, political and co-ordination experts could strengthen UN prevention capabilities, increase the organisation's visibility and "demonstrate the international community's attention and commitment" to protecting Palestinian civilians.
2. Additional resources and better access to ensure the wellbeing of civilians: He said expanding current UN programmes and humanitarian and development assistance could more effectively address Palestinian needs. But said the UN appeal for about 540 million dollars for basic services and support to 1.9 million vulnerable Palestinians is currently only 24.5% funded.
3. Dedicated civilian observers: He said establishing a UN or non-UN civilian observer mission with a mandate to report on the protection of civilians and their wellbeing "would particularly be relevant in sensitive areas such as checkpoints, the Gaza fence, and areas near settlements". Adding that observers could provide local mediation.
4. Physical protection: He said the UN could provide armed military or police forces, if given a mandate by the Security Council, "to deter and, if necessary, ensure the safety of the civilian population". As an alternative, he said a group of "like-minded" countries could operate under a UN mandate to provide physical protection rather than a UN mission.  

Mr Guterres said a UN civilian observer mission or a new military or police mission established by the UN, or operating under a UN mandate, would require Security Council approval.

He further added that UN missions currently operating in the region don’t include the protection of civilians and it would be up to council members to add this.

Israeli Ambassador Danny Damon condemned the report, he said:

"The only protection the Palestinian people need is from their own leadership."

"The [Palestinian Authority] incites its people to demonize and attack Jews, and Hamas, a terrorist organization, uses the people in Gaza as hostages and endangers the lives of civilians for terror’s sake."

Mr Danon added the suggestions presented by Mr Guterres “would only bring about continued Palestinian suffering at the hands of their leaders.”