UN must get involved

Now that the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has crumbled and negotiations between the two have come to an abrupt end, it is high time that the UN Security Council got serious about the situation and started acting as per the mandate it is invested with.

This main UN organ is authorised to deal with threats to regional and international peace and security. As such, it should assume its responsibility to end the war on Gaza by acting to that end seriously and effectively.

Previous UN Security Council action vis-à-vis the conflict was mild, ineffective and limited to expressions of pious wishes to see the conflict end.

In view of the horrifying number of deaths, injuries and destruction inflicted by Israel on the captive population of Gaza, the council should live up to the world’s expectations of it and act in a meaningful and effective way to stop the Israeli onslaught.

Chapter 7 of the UN Charter stipulates the possible resort to force to implement the UN Security Council resolutions.

The general parameters of any new action by the council should ensure that both sides’ legitimate demands are met.

To start with, Israel’s arbitrary blockade of Gaza must be lifted so that the Palestinians may begin to live freely and enjoy a measure of economic, social and political development.

Gaza must also have free access to the world through its airport and harbour, via which legitimate imports and exports can be channelled.

Israel’s security concern must be addressed as well, on the basis of a durable peace accord that is to be negotiated under the UN dome, with its resolutions as a basis.

Any solution reached must also incorporate commitments by both parties not to threaten each other’s security and territorial integrity at any time.

Since the two sides do not seem capable, or willing, to end their conflict and reach a peace agreement on their own, the UN Security Council must step in boldly and effectively and force them to do so, for their own sake and for that of the region as a whole.