The UN calls the idea of a peacekeeping mission to Gaza premature

The head of the UN peacekeeping mission, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, has spoken out against recent calls for the deployment of international troops in the Gaza Strip. The reason for this is the acute uncertainty of the post-war situation in the region.

This was reported by RBC-Ukraine with reference to Bloomberg.

The UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations said that he was aware of the Arab League's demand for the introduction of so-called “blue helmets”. However, he warned that it is too early for such a step, and the political situation is too complicated to consider this option at the moment.

In his opinion, the post-war situation is too uncertain, and any such operation would require the consent of Israel, which is very critical of the UN's work in the Palestinian territories.

“No one really knows what the next day will look like in Gaza. We don't know at all what the situation will look like, but it is obvious that the parties - and this is certainly Israel - will have to agree to such a proposal,” Lacroix said.

According to him, the UN is currently calling “first and foremost” for a humanitarian ceasefire, the release of hostages, access to aid, and then progress toward a political solution to the conflict based on the two-state solution. He added that the decision to deploy the mission should be made by the 15-member Security Council.

The Arab League's proposal to deploy peacekeepers to the Gaza Strip is contained in the final statement of its meeting in Bahrain on May 16.

“We call for the deployment of an international protection force and a United Nations peacekeeping force in the occupied Palestinian territory until the two-state solution is realized,” the declaration signed by the 22 members of the group reads.

Author - Serhii Kolomiets, 25/05/2024