United Nations — On Friday, the United States intensified its calls to reach a consensus in the United Nations on this matter Its plan for Gaza While Russia circulated a competing proposal that would exclude reference to a transitional authority supposedly headed by President Donald Trump and ask the United Nations to develop options for forming a transitional government. International Stabilization Force.
The United States and eight countries played a role in reaching a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas after more than two years The war in Gaza He urged the 15-member UN Security Council to “rapidly adopt” the latest US draft resolution. There is only one of the eight countries in the Council, which is Pakistan.
The joint statement with Qatar, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Jordan and Turkey came after the United States faced objections this week and made changes to its proposal at the United Nations to include more specific language on Palestinian self-determination, according to a UN diplomat familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the negotiations.
The diplomat said that the latest American draft and the Russian proposal are expected to be put to a vote early next week, adding that the American plan could obtain the nine votes needed to pass, with Russia and China likely to abstain from voting instead of using their veto power.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Trump’s ceasefire plan “is the best path to peace in the Middle East” and said the US decision will enable efforts to move forward.
The US decision supports Trump’s 20-point ceasefire plan, which calls for the formation of a peace council that has not yet been formed as a transitional authority that it will chair. It will also authorize the formation of an international force to stabilize Gaza, with a broad mandate that includes monitoring the borders, providing security, and disarmament in the Strip.
Arab countries and others that expressed Desire to participate in the stabilization force They indicated that such authorization was necessary for them to contribute troops.
After facing objections from some members of the United Nations Security Council that the resolution did not envision the establishment of an independent Palestinian state in the future, the United States made amendments to it.
It now says that after “the reforms in the Palestinian Authority are faithfully implemented and the Gaza redevelopment process progresses, conditions may be ready for a credible path to self-determination and Palestinian statehood.”
The competing Russian draft resolution, obtained by The Associated Press on Friday, includes stronger language supporting the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel and asserts that the West Bank and Gaza Strip should be annexed as a state under the Palestinian Authority.
Russia’s mission to the United Nations said in a statement that it took the step because the UN Security Council, which is responsible for maintaining international peace and security, “must be given the correct role and tools to ensure accountability and oversight.”
Russia said that the Council resolutions are also supposed to confirm the basic decisions, “first and foremost the two-state solution for the Israeli-Palestinian settlement.”
Russia said that these provisions were not present in the American draft, so it circulated its own text, which aims to “amend the American concept and make it compatible” with previous Council decisions.
The Russian mission said: “We would like to confirm that our document does not conflict with the American initiative.” “On the contrary, it points to the tireless efforts of the mediators – the United States, Qatar, Egypt and Turkey – without which the long-awaited ceasefire and release of hostages and detainees would have been impossible.”
Russia said it also welcomed the terms of the Trump plan that led to a ceasefire, the release of hostages and detainees, the exchange of bodies, and the resumption of humanitarian access and aid deliveries.
On Thursday, the US mission to the United Nations warned in a statement that “attempts to sow discord” have “serious, tangible and completely avoidable consequences for the Palestinians in Gaza.” She urged the Council to unite and pass the latest American draft resolution.