The US says its plan for post-war Gaza will offer a pathway to “Palestinian self-determination and statehood”, according to a joint statement signed by multiple countries working towards a long-term ceasefire solution in the region.
The statement, arranged by the US and jointly released on Friday by Qatar, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Jordan and Turkey, expresses support for Washington’s UN Security Council resolution to establish an international stabilisation force in Gaza, which will be subject to a vote on Monday.
“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 joint statement said. “We are looking forward to this resolution’s swift adoption.”
US President Donald Trump’s administration will learn on Monday whether the Security Council will adopt the 20-point American plan, effectively codifying into international law the resolution to provide a mandate for an international stabilisation force and a governing board in Gaza.
Trump's ceasefire plan includes that, while the Gaza Strip is re-developed and the reform programme of the West Bank Palestinian Authority "is faithfully carried out”, the conditions “may finally be in place for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood, which we recognize [sic] as the aspiration of the Palestinian people”.
In its vote on the resolution, the UN Council could reach a stalemate now that Russia, one of the five veto-holding powers of the Security Council, has circulated a competing draft resolution which does not include the authorisation of an international stabilisation force in Gaza or the governing structure proposed by the US, according to the AFP.
In its alternative proposal, the 10-point Russian resolution commends “the initiative that led to the ceasefire” but does not mention Trump, and the Russian UN mission reportedly said in a statement that, unlike the US plan, it will highlight the principle of a “two-state solution for the Israeli-Palestinian settlement”.
Trump has oscillated in recent weeks on whether he will back a two-state solution, which most of the Israeli government is vehemently opposed to.
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