The US and several Arab and Muslim-majority nations on Friday urged the UN Security Council to swiftly adopt a resolution backing President Donald Trump’s peace plan for Gaza, as diplomatic wrangling intensifies over rival proposals.
In a joint statement, the US, the UAE, Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Jordan and Turkey said they supported the draft now before the 15-member council and wanted its “swift adoption”.
“We are issuing this statement as the Member States that gathered during High-Level Week to begin this process, which offers a pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood,” the countries said.
“We emphasise that this is a sincere effort, and the plan provides a viable path towards peace and stability, not only between the Israelis and the Palestinians, but for the entire region.”
The US proposal calls for a two-year transitional administration in Gaza, linked to reforms within the Palestinian Authority and the deployment of an international force to oversee security and demilitarisation.
Washington says the plan is aimed at stabilising the territory and creating conditions for eventual statehood.
Negotiations remain fraught, with several Security Council members – Russia, China and Algeria – raising concerns about timelines, enforcement mechanisms and the role of the proposed international force.
Russia has circulated a competing draft resolution that calls for the UN Secretary General to present options for an international stabilisation force for Gaza.
Most importantly, it does not include the Board of Peace Washington wants endorsed as part of Mr Trump’s plan.
In a statement, Russia explained that the rationale behind their draft resolution is to "enable the Security Council to define clear modalities for deploying a peacekeeping contingent and establishing administration in Gaza, while ensuring that these modalities are fully in line with universally recognised international legal standards".
"It is also crucial to preserve the international legal framework for the Middle East peace process, which has been developed over many decades on the basis of the two-state solution," it added.
UN diplomats told The National that the Security Council is expected to vote on both drafts on Monday.
