US drafts UN resolution for international force for Gaza

At least four Muslim countries interested in participating in new force

Hamas militants guard an area where they were searching for the bodies of hostages in Gaza. AFP

The US is drafting a resolution at the UN that seeks Security Council backing for plans to establish an international force in Gaza.

The resolution would give the US and other nations a mandate to govern Gaza and provide security to the strip, Axios reported. The force would probably have a two-year term, with the possibility of renewal.

CNN reported that the resolution includes details of a temporary security force in charge of demilitarising Gaza and training a new Palestinian police force. A source told the network that the resolution remains under discussion.

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Richard Gowan, UN director at the International Crisis Group, told The National that Washington’s push for a UN resolution authorising an international stabilisation force in Gaza reflects recognition “that it won’t be able to persuade countries to send troops without the legal backstop of a UN mandate.”

“There is a very high probability that the international force will need to act robustly to keep order and deal with armed groups,” he said. “Even UN humanitarian workers have said privately it will be necessary to use force to ensure stability. Nobody will be willing to send in troops with the UN’s blessing if it all turns ugly.”

Mr Gowan said it was “quite sensible to frame this as a peace enforcement mission rather than pretend it is a case for blue helmet peacekeepers,” noting the UN’s past struggles in places such as Mali.

“If the initial international deployment does create a degree of stability, it might hand off to a UN mission later. The UN can then provide civilian expertise on reconstruction and governance in Gaza. But you need a solid military force too,” he added.

Mr Gowan also said China, Russia and Algeria will likely insist that the Council retains ultimate authority.

"They won’t want to leave this entirely to the US and that could be a point of contention,” he noted.

At least four Muslim countries are interested in participating in the new force – Indonesia, Egypt, Azerbaijan and Turkey. It would work in conjunction with US President Donald Trump's ceasefire board of peace.

The National previously reported that the US, UK and France were advancing a draft UN Security Council resolution that would authorise an international stabilisation force to assume broad security control of the Gaza Strip as Israeli forces withdraw from key areas. The force is also expected to play a role in disarming Hamas.

On Monday, Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said countries are working on a UN Security Council mandate for an international stabilisation force in Gaza and will decide on any troop deployments once a framework is complete.

He said he felt Hamas might be ready to hand over control of Gaza to a Palestinian committee, though details remain scarce.

On Saturday, Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said stability in Gaza will remain elusive as long as Israeli forces continue to occupy parts of the enclave, stressing the need for a clear timetable for withdrawal.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said any international force working in Gaza would have to consist of countries with which “Israel is comfortable”.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty has said Cairo would “support and commit troops within specific parameters”.

“We must have a mandate by the [UN] Security Council to endorse it and we need to specify the mission of the troops on the ground, which will be peacekeeping and providing training to Palestinian police,” he said.

Meanwhile, concerns abound about the durability of the Hamas-Israel ceasefire, with the two sides trading accusations of breaches.