Table of Contents
The United Kingdom government strongly believes that Hamas, who are the Militant rulers of Gaza, bear the full responsibility of initiating the violence. In one of His statements, Britain’s Foreign Secretary, William Hague, stated that Hamas, Gaza’s militant rulers, bear principal responsibility for initiating the violence and must stop all rocket attacks on Israel. However, he also warned on the risks of diplomacy of an Israeli escalation. "A ground invasion is much more difficult for the international community to sympathize with or support, including the United Kingdom," he said.[i] The interests of the United Kingdom is to see stop of the rocket attacks on Israel and a restoration of peace between the two involved countries, Israel and Palestine. To achieve this, the United Kingdom believes that Hamas should stop the attacks that it has initiated on Israel. The United Kingdom’s position in terms of values in the Israel-Palestinian conflict is to obtain a society that respects human rights. Such rights include the right to life, national security, food and shelter. This is why the United Kingdom calls for Hamas to stop its rocket attacks on Israel. This is meant to regain a state of peace and political stability in the two involved countries, which is essential for human and societal values.[ii]
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Political status of Gaza
By the year 2003, The Israeli government came up with a plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip and a section of the Northern West Bank by the end of 2005. The Palestinian government welcomed the proposal. However, the Palestinian government maintained that they will consider the strip under Israeli occupation until the finalization of the disengagement plan. A number of Israeli residents were opposed to the plan, leading to a substantial level of tension in the country up to 16th February 2005. By August 2005, the Israeli defence forces removed all settlers in the Gaza Strip forcefully. Currently, the Gaza strip is under full control of Hamas.[iii]
Humanitarian Needs in Gaza
The effects of the Israeli Blockade have been evident and severe. Since Hamas seized power in 2007, little, basic humanitarian items have been allowed into Gaza. Before the onset of the Israeli operation, water, health, sewage and power infrastructure were is serious conditions due to lack of spare parts. The blockade includes fuel limits, which has led to the shutting down of the power plant that supplies power to Gaza city. The ban on exports has devastated the Gaza economy, with the level of unemployment soaring. More than 750000 people depend on relief food from the UN relief and works agency.[iv]
Human Rights violation in Gaza
Gaza has experienced a number of human right violations, the most notable one being the brutal killings of innocent civilians. On 22nd December 2008, when Israel launched a 22-day military campaign to suppress rocket fire from Gaza to Israel, more than 700 civilians lost their lives in Gaza during the fight. Israeli forces violated a series of war laws, such as the drone-launched missile attacks, which killed 29 Gaza civilians. In addition, the use of white phosphorous munitions in highly populated areas was also a violation of human rights. Israel continues to impose import restrictions on essential goods and other supplies, which are necessary for the reconstruction of Gaza. Gaza civilians have failed to reconstruct their destroyed homes, roads and schools due to the import restrictions, which amount to human rights violation.[v]
Military Situation in Gaza
The security situation in Gaza has improved massively over the past few months with the end of the military escalation. However, the ceasefire is still quite fragile, with some Gaza residents fearing that military activities could resume very violently, in the event that the ceasefire fails.[vi]
Proposed Interventions
Implementation of a Border Force
Limiting an international force to an Egypt-Gaza border force could prevent the widening of the Gaza conflict. It could also reduce or stop the trafficking of dangerous weapons in Gaza. Such a force will not have the power to penetrate into Gaza, and would not have the mandate and power to maintain law and order in Gaza. Such an intervention can be provided by the United Nations. The goal of this move will be to confront Hamas, which is the militant ruler of Gaza. In addition, the move will aim at preventing the inflow of dangerous weapons in Gaza, which facilitate attacks by Hamas.[vii]
Other than the above intervention, an Arab and Muslim mediation would be essential in ending the animosity between the two religions. The United Nations must encourage other Muslim nations to get involved in the mediation talks.[viii]
Strategies for obtaining consent from the United Nations parties
In order to obtain consent from the United Nation parties, it would be necessary to compile adequate evidence of the humanitarian crisis looming in Gaza. This will act as evidence of the need for intervention in Gaza. Alternatively, looking for support from other countries that are affected by the unrest in Gaza would also convince United Nation parties on the need for intervention and conflict resolution in Gaza.[ix]