UN moves to shore up security and rebuild Gaza with international force

France, Britain and the United States are working on drafting a United Nations Security Council resolution aimed at establishing an international force in the Gaza Strip, a move described as potentially paving the way for a new security and political phase in the territory after months of war.

The French Foreign Ministry said on Thursday evening that Paris “is working in cooperation with London and in full coordination with Washington to put the finishing touches on the text of the resolution in the coming days,” adding that the goal is to pave the way for the deployment of an international force capable of securing the situation on the ground and supporting reconstruction and stabilization efforts.

According to diplomatic sources, the proposed force would not be part of a United Nations peacekeeping mission, but would be implemented along the lines of the model used in Haiti — that is, a multilateral international mission mandated by the Security Council but with field management separate from the UN.

Indonesia has offered to send 20,000 troops to participate in the operation, while participation by other countries including the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Qatar, Azerbaijan and Italy is being discussed, amid talks with additional states to broaden involvement and strengthen the force’s legitimacy.

Estimates indicate the force could carry out multiple tasks including maintaining security on the ground, protecting humanitarian aid, ensuring freedom of movement, contributing to reconstruction, and supporting any future political settlement between the parties.

The Security Council is expected to hold intensive discussions in the coming days over the final form of the resolution, amid differing positions among some member states on the nature of the mandate, the character of the deployment and the force’s role in managing the situation in the Strip.