A “temporary international mission” to solve the humanitarian catastrophe and restore order to Gaza following the war was demanded on Thursday by the United Arab Emirates.
It happened when Arab leaders of state, facing fierce opposition from Israel, demanded at a May meeting for the deployment of UN peacekeepers throughout the occupied Palestinian territory.
“Consolidating peace and security and ending the humanitarian suffering should begin by the deployment of a temporary international mission in Gaza with a formal invitation from the Palestinian government,” UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation Reem al-Hashimy told the official WAM news agency.
“This international mission will be responsible for efficiently responding to the humanitarian crisis… establishing law and order… and paving the way to reunite Gaza and the West Bank under a single, legitimate Palestinian Authority,” she said.
Days prior, she had told the Financial Times, a British publication, that “the UAE could consider being part of the stabilization forces alongside Arab and international partners… at the invitation of a reformed Palestinian Authority.” This was deputy foreign minister Lana Nusseibeh’s statement.
Though he hasn’t shared many details about his intentions for Gaza after the conflict, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated in a speech to the US Congress on Wednesday that Israel should continue to be in charge of security issues while recognized Palestinian leaders handled civil concerns.
Washington has stated time and time again that it is against Hamas or Israel ruling Gaza after the war and that the Palestinian Authority should be restructured to take control.
The Palestinian Authority has had no presence in Gaza since Hamas seized sole control of the territory in 2007.
It exercises limited powers in Palestinian towns and cities in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
