Mike Waltz, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, hosted a meeting with the 10 elected members of the U.N. Security Council—Algeria, Denmark, Greece, Guyana, Pakistan, Panama, South Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia and Somalia—and regional partners on Wednesday, according to a spokesman for the U.S. mission.
The meeting also included Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, “demonstrating regional support for the resolution to the U.N. Security Council on Gaza,” the spokesman said.
The United States is seeking to advance a resolution to establish an international stabilization force in Gaza. It would provide a broad, two-year mandate for Washington and others to govern and secure the Strip during a transitional period.
The resolution, as it currently stands, also allows for extensions of the mandate, with much of the key language still under debate.
The international stabilization force would guard Gaza’s borders with Israel and Egypt, demilitarize the enclave—including disarming Hamas, if necessary—assume responsibility for protecting Gazan civilians and humanitarian areas and train a new Palestinian police force to replace Hamas.
A transitional period would allow for the gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, with the ultimate goal of handing power to the Palestinian Authority after it completes necessary reforms.
Waltz held a rare meeting with Palestinian Authority officials on Tuesday, Axios reported, as European allies push for a bigger post-war role for Ramallah, against the wishes of Israel.
Several countries have shown a willingness to contribute troops, while others are reportedly hesitant to be part of a security force, rather than a peacekeeping mission.
The international stabilization force, per the most recent draft resolution, would work with Israel and Egypt and answer to a Board of Peace, led by U.S. President Donald Trump, that will act as a transitional government. A technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee would handle day-to-day operations.
“Under President Trump’s bold leadership, the United States will again deliver results at the U.N., not endless talk,” the spokesman said. “The parties have seized this historic opportunity to finally end decades of bloodshed and make the president’s vision of lasting peace in the Middle East a reality.”
There is no timeline for a vote on the resolution, though the Trump administration reportedly wants the international stabilization force infrastructure up and running by the end of the calendar year.
The resolution will need the support of at least nine of the Security Council’s 15 members, while avoiding a veto by any of the permanent five members, including Russia and China.
