UN rapporteur calls for international protection force in Gaza, West Bank
United Nations Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese urged the international community on Sunday to deploy an "international protection presence" across the occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza, characterizing such an intervention as "absolutely urgent."
- World
- Anadolu Agency
- Published Date: 09:44 AM 24 August 2026
UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese called Sunday for an "international protection presence" in the occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza, saying such a deployment was "absolutely urgent."
"Third states have an obligation, per the ICJ, to act to end Israel's unlawful occupation," Albanese wrote on the US social media platform X, referring to a July 2024 advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice that deemed Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory unlawful and said states must not assist in maintaining it.
Albanese also questioned whether UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' diplomatic efforts and the General Assembly's "Uniting for Peace" mechanism could overcome the Security Council's deadlock on the conflict.
The mechanism allows the General Assembly to consider international peace and security issues when the Security Council cannot act because of a lack of unanimity among its permanent members. The council has repeatedly been unable to take action on Gaza and the West Bank amid vetoes by the US.