Egypt has proposed to the UN Security Council the deployment of peacekeeping forces in the West Bank and Gaza Strip to support the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. This initiative comes amid efforts to rebuild Gaza’s healthcare system and respond to the humanitarian crisis resulting from ongoing conflict. The proposal aligns with broader regional support for Palestinian self-governance and reconstruction efforts.
Egypt has recently proposed to the UN Security Council the consideration of deploying an international presence in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip. This announcement was made by Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty during a meeting in Cairo with foreign diplomats focused on rehabilitating Gaza’s healthcare system. The proposal seeks a Security Council resolution aimed at establishing peacekeeping or international protection forces in the region.
Abdelatty detailed that the planned initiative includes deploying peacekeeping forces with defined mandates and timelines, establishing conditions conducive to the formation of an independent Palestinian state. However, he did not provide specific details regarding the current status of this proposal.
At an emergency Arab summit held in Egypt on March 4, a similar initiative was supported, emphasizing the need for peacekeeping forces in Palestinian territories as part of a broader strategy for political resolution and statehood.
The Egyptian Foreign Ministry also noted the increasing support for an Arab-led initiative to assist in rebuilding Gaza while ensuring the protection of its Palestinian population from displacement. Abdelatty underlined that for successful reconstruction, a lasting ceasefire must be achieved, alongside collaboration with Palestinian leadership in early recovery efforts.
He stressed the necessity for the Palestinian Authority to return to Gaza to resume administrative control and highlighted that Egypt and Jordan have initiated training programs for Palestinian police officers for deployment in the region.
As of October 2023, the ongoing Israeli military offensive in Gaza has resulted in over 48,500 Palestinian fatalities, predominantly women and children, with injuries exceeding 112,000. The conflict has caused significant devastation to the enclave, prompting a ceasefire agreement that took effect on January 19.
In a related development, U.S. President Donald Trump previously suggested that the United States could take control of Gaza, proposing to transform it into the “Riviera of the Middle East.” This idea received considerable backlash, leading Trump to clarify that “nobody is expelling Palestinians.”
In summary, Egypt’s proposal to the United Nations aims to facilitate the deployment of peacekeeping forces in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, supporting aspirations for an independent Palestinian state. The call is backed by recent regional summits emphasizing reconstruction efforts and a need for stability in Gaza. Given the ongoing humanitarian crisis resulting from the Israeli offensive, the success of these initiatives depends on securing a ceasefire and restoring governance through the Palestinian Authority.
Original Source: newscentral.africa
