فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
Fez News – Middle East and International Diplomacy
New York – In an attempt to enhance stability in the Middle East, the United States exerted intensive diplomatic pressure on Friday to persuade members of the United Nations Security Council to adopt a draft resolution supporting U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace plan for the Gaza Strip, which is scheduled for a vote on Monday. This pressure comes in the context of the fragility of the current ceasefire, which was agreed upon on October 10, after two years of bloody conflict ignited by Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023.
According to diplomatic sources, the United States began formal negotiations within the Council last week regarding the draft text, which “endorses” Trump’s comprehensive 20-point plan that allowed for the establishment of a fragile ceasefire in the devastated Palestinian territory. The text, which has been modified several times, allows for the deployment of an “International Stabilization Force” (ISF) and grants a “Peace Committee” – presumed to be chaired by President Trump – transitional administrative powers over the Gaza Strip until the end of December 2027. It also authorizes this committee to determine reconstruction priorities and mobilize funding, in coordination with the Palestinian Authority after completing the required reform program.
Broad International Support for the American Project Amid Russian Challenges
Facing reservations from some members, and against a counter-proposal submitted by Russia, the United States warned on Friday of the risks of rejecting its draft, emphasizing support from a broad group of Arab and Islamic countries. In a joint statement, the United States, Qatar, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Jordan, and Turkey expressed their “joint support” for the American project, which allows for the deployment of an international force in the Palestinian territory, hoping for its “swift adoption.” They affirmed that the plan provides “a viable path toward peace and stability, not only for Israelis and Palestinians, but for the entire region.”
The United Kingdom also announced on Friday its public support for the American text, in a move that enhances its chances of success. The Council is scheduled to vote on the draft on Monday at 17:00 New York time (22:00 GMT), according to diplomatic sources cited by AFP.
Details of International Deployment and Stabilization Force Missions
The American draft defines broad powers for the International Stabilization Force (ISF), which is authorized to “use all necessary measures” to implement its mandate in accordance with international law. These missions include supporting border security in cooperation with Israel and Egypt, disarming “informal armed groups,” training a new Palestinian police force, protecting civilians, and securing humanitarian corridors. Countries such as Indonesia are expected to participate in the force, reflecting Arab and Islamic support for the plan.
The Russian Counter-Proposal: Focus on International Consensus
In contrast, Russia submitted a counter-draft resolution that rejects the establishment of a “Peace Committee” or the immediate deployment of an international force, according to a text seen by AFP. The text requests the UN Secretary-General to “identify options for implementing” the peace plan and present “options for deploying a force” in Gaza “quickly.” Russia’s mission to the United Nations confirmed that its document “does not contradict the American initiative,” but rather aims to enable the Council to “identify clear mechanisms for deploying a peacekeeping force and establishing administration in Gaza,” while ensuring compliance with international standards. The Russian text also emphasizes support for the two-state solution and the unity of the West Bank and Gaza Strip under a unified Palestinian authority.
American Warnings of “Eternal Conflict”
In a rare statement by U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz, published Friday in The Washington Post, he warned that “any refusal to support this resolution is a vote in favor of continued control by Hamas terrorists or resumption of war with Israel, condemning the region and its people to eternal conflict.” He added that the plan represents “a historic opportunity for lasting peace in the Middle East.”
The conflict began on October 7, 2023, with an attack launched by Hamas on Israel, resulting in the deaths of 1,221 people, most of them civilians, according to official statistics. The retaliatory Israeli military campaign has claimed the lives of more than 69,185 Palestinians in Gaza, most of them civilians, according to statistics from the Gaza Ministry of Health, which the United Nations considers reliable.
This diplomatic escalation represents a decisive step in efforts to end the conflict, amid fears of the collapse of the fragile ceasefire, especially after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered punitive strikes in response to violations attributed to Hamas. Fez News is closely following developments, emphasizing the importance of international efforts to achieve sustainable peace.
