Responsibility to protect and inter-state crises: why and how R2P applies to the case of Gaza

Hacettepe University, Faculty of Economic and Administrative Sciences, Department of International Relations, Beytepe/Ankara, Turkey

This article addresses a prominent question relating to the nature and scope of responsibility to protect (R2P), namely the situation in Gaza, and asks whether or not R2P can be implemented in ‘inter-state’ crises. Following a two-fold analysis in arguing why and how Gaza qualifies as an R2P case requiring the international community’s attention, first the scope of R2P is discussed. Then, the crisis in Gaza is the focus, considering the two scenarios of Gaza as a territory of the independent state of Palestine, and as an occupied territory due to the effective control of Israel in and out of the territory.