On November 17, the UN Security Council will vote on a draft resolution prepared by the United States in support of President Donald Trump's peace plan for the Gaza Strip, the press service of the Permanent Mission of Sierra Leone to the UN announced.
The Permanent Mission of Russia to the UN said on Friday that Moscow "was forced" to prepare an alternative draft resolution to the US one to achieve sustainable peace in Gaza. The Russian document instructs the UN Secretary-General to prepare a report to the Security Council outlining options for implementing the relevant provisions of the Trump plan.
The Russians emphasize the "key importance of preserving the international legal framework for the Middle East settlement", based on the "two-state" solution, which has been developed over many decades. The Russian mission is convinced that UN Security Council resolutions must reaffirm fundamental decisions and principles, primarily the two-state solution for the Palestinian-Israeli peace process.
Earlier, the US Permanent Mission to the UN reported that the US draft resolution includes provisions supporting "international stabilization forces" and ensuring "a stable, secure, peaceful and prosperous future for the Palestinians in Gaza without Hamas". The US mission said it has been negotiating its resolution in the UN Security Council since early November.
The list of individuals who will serve on the Palestinian Committee and govern the Gaza Strip during the transitional period has already been approved, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on the A Haber television channel.
“It is necessary to accelerate the delivery of medical supplies, basic food products and essential goods to Gaza. Temporary housing must be organized. In this regard, the implementation of the relevant project in the UN Security Council is crucial. As you know, one of the most important issues there is the establishment of a non-political committee composed of Palestinians, which will regulate daily life in Gaza, including issues of electricity, water, food, etc. The names of the members of this committee have already been determined. Hamas has repeatedly stated its readiness to transfer the governance of Gaza to this Palestinian committee,“ the minister said.
He stressed that these are individuals outside the political arena, but who are “well known and accepted in the region“. However, according to Fidan, in order to implement the mechanism for governing Gaza, it is necessary to resolve the issue “how the relationship between the Peace Council - the body proposed by the US - and this committee will be structured“.
“The Palestinian committee will take over the day-to-day governance of Gaza. A police force will have to be established, which will take time. It is this delay in time that creates vulnerability. During this period, it will be difficult to provide the necessary amount of humanitarian aid. Sometimes it is difficult to prevent violations that lead to loss of life and massacres. American intervention in this process is extremely important,“ the foreign minister noted.