Draft GA Resolution For a UN Emergency Humanitarian Escort Force

Genocide at the scale occurring in Gaza demands a UN authorized multilateral emergency force to facilitate humanitarian aid and save lives. As a general rule, this requires authorization by the Security Council but with the U.S. veto, this is impossible. When the Security Council is unable to act, the General Assembly retains the authority to approve necessary action, particularly when necessary to give effect to Member States’ obligations under the Genocide Convention.

Canada is well-situated to propose and secure broad support for the required decisive action at the General Assembly. During the Suez Crisis of 1956, under the leadership of Lester B. Pearson, then Secretary of State for External Affairs, Canada played a pivotal role in overcoming Security Council inaction by securing broad support at the General Assembly for the UNGA Resolution 998 (ES-I) to create a UN Emergency Force, with the support of Egypt on whose territory the multilateral force would operate. Pearson was subsequently awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for “his crucial contribution to the deployment of a United Nations Emergency Force in the wake of the Suez Crisis.” Pearson’s initiative laid the foundation for Canada’s independent peacekeeping and humanitarian role in international affairs — a role that has regrettably diminished in recent years.

Now is the time for Canada to reclaim that role by facilitating the establishment of a UN sanctioned emergency humanitarian escort force, with the approval of Egypt and Palestine, to ensure the delivery of life-saving assistance to the population of Gaza and to open a path toward peace.

Here's what a resolution might look like:

Draft UNGA Resolution

Welcoming the recognition of the State of Palestine by over 140 member States, including the recent announcements of such by Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, France and Portugal,

Stressing that recognition alone is insufficient in the face of mass starvation, denial of essential medicines and shelter, and continuing civilian suffering and deaths in Gaza,

Recalling the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, in particular Article I, obliging all States Parties to prevent and punish genocide,

Recalling also the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their Additional Protocols, and reaffirming Common Article 1, under which all High Contracting Parties undertake to respect and to ensure respect for the Conventions in all circumstances,

Recalling further the International Court of Justice orders of provisional measures in South Africa v. Israel (2024–25), requiring urgently needed humanitarian relief into Gaza,

Reaffirming that under international humanitarian law, consent to humanitarian relief may not be withheld arbitrarily, and that blockades or restrictions whose object or effect is to deprive a population of essentials such as food, water and healthcare are unlawful,

Deeply concerned by the catastrophic humanitarian conditions in Gaza, including widespread hunger and deprivation, and the continuing large-scale destruction of housing, hospitals, schools, water and sanitation systems, and other essential civilian infrastructure in Gaza, which has rendered hundreds of thousands of people homeless and gravely hindered prospects for recovery and reconstruction,

Recognizing the urgent need for coordinated international measures to ensure humanitarian access and the protection of civilians,

Recalling General Assembly resolution 377 A (V) of 3 November 1950 (‘Uniting for Peace’), which affirmed the authority of the General Assembly to recommend collective measures when the Security Council fails to act,

Recalling also the establishment by the General Assembly of the United Nations Emergency Force in 1956 as a precedent for multilateral protective measures organized by the Assembly, with the consent of the States on whose territory emergency forces are to be deployed, to ensure access to humanitarian assistance and avert further loss of life,

The General Assembly

1. Requests the Secretary-General to establish, in agreement with the Governments of Egypt and Palestine, a United Nations Inspection and Verification Mission at the Rafah crossing, to inspect and certify humanitarian cargoes destined for Gaza;
2. Requests further the Secretary-General, with the consent of Egypt and the State of Palestine, to establish a United Nations Emergency Humanitarian Escort Force, with participation from contributing Member States, to escort UN-certified humanitarian convoys across Rafah into Gaza to ensure their safe passage and delivery of aid to those in need, working in close coordination with UNRWA and other relevant United Nations humanitarian agencies;
3. Affirms that any obstruction or interference with UN-certified humanitarian convoys entering Gaza through Rafah would be contrary to international humanitarian law and incompatible with the obligations of States under the Geneva Conventions and the Genocide Convention;
4. Calls upon all parties to refrain from any interference with humanitarian convoys certified by the United Nations;
5. Requests the Secretary-General to report every 30 days on the functioning of the humanitarian convoys, including any incidents of obstruction or interference;
6. Requests further that the Secretary-General, in consultation with the State of Palestine, Egypt, and other concerned parties, develop options for a longer-term United Nations protective presence in Gaza, to facilitate the transition to full Palestinian governance, ensure the protection of civilians, support the reconstruction of housing, infrastructure, and essential services, and assist in the re-establishment of functioning civil institutions, and to present these options to the General Assembly within 60 days;
7. Welcomes the announced intention of [xxx], [xxx], [xxx] and other Member States to make available personnel and resources for the Mission, and calls upon all Member States to provide similar contributions.