US seeks UN approval for Gaza force

The Trump administration is working on a United Nations Security Council resolution to deploy a multinational force to Gaza to uphold the US-brokered ceasefire deal, CNN reported on Tuesday, citing a source familiar with the plans.

The details of a temporary security force in charge of demilitarizing Gaza and training a new Palestinian police force are under discussion as part of the work on the resolution, according to the source. US troops would not be part of the force on the ground in Gaza, instead operating in a coordination role outside of the territory.

Early drafts of the resolution have been shared with other members of the Security Council, the source said.

Setting up an international stabilization force (ISF) is a key part of Trump's 20-point Gaza ceasefire plan, but many of the nations considering taking part have made clear that they would only join under the mandate of a UN resolution.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said while visiting Israel last month that some of the potential participants would only join the force if it had "some sort of international mandate," adding that this could take the form of a UN resolution or an "international agreement."

Once established, the ISF would operate under a unified command in close coordination with Israel and Egypt, the source told CNN. The US has established a coordination center in southern Israel to manage the next phases of the Gaza ceasefire plan, including the planned reconstruction effort and the entry of humanitarian aid. According to US Central Command, nearly 40 different nations and international organizations have representation at the coordination center.

The ISF, working together with a trained Palestinian police force, will stabilize the security situation in Gaza and ensure the demilitarization of the enclave, according to the draft resolution. That includes the destruction of military infrastructure used by Hamas, a step that risks putting the new force in direct conflict with the militant organization, which has worked to re-establish its authority since the ceasefire.

The US-brokered ceasefire plan also calls for the international force to carry out the disarmament of Hamas, but countries have been reluctant to agree to such a task.

US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shake hands at the Knesset on the day Trump addresses it, in Jerusalem, on October 13.

"At the moment, there aren't any major issues for us — the question is whether it will stay that way," the official said.