Rubio says US ‘optimistic’ on UN resolution on Gaza

Rubio says US ‘optimistic’ on UN resolution on Gaza

The US secretary of state said he is consulting nations on balancing interests and structuring cooperation beyond security.

Marco Rubio said deploying the international force is vital for aiding Palestinians and sidelining Hamas. (EPA Images pic)
HAMILTON:
US secretary of state Marco Rubio said Wednesday he was optimistic that the UN Security Council would finalise a resolution on Gaza that would back an international security force.

“We feel optimistic that it’s going to happen,” Rubio told reporters after G7 foreign ministers met in Canada.

“I think we’re making good progress on the language of the resolution and hopefully we’ll have action on it very soon.”

Rubio said the US was speaking with different countries on ways to “balance their interests here, and how that’s structured beyond just the security force.”

The US last week started circulating the draft resolution that would follow up on a ceasefire in the two-year war championed by President Donald Trump.

While the Trump administration has long criticised the UN, a number of countries have said that they need the authorisation of the Security Council before they can deploy troops to Gaza.

Rubio said that the deployment for the international force was crucial both to allowing more assistance into the Palestinian territory and sidelining Hamas.

“If you really want to see a huge uptick, not just in humanitarian assistance, but redevelopment, you’re going to need to have security,” Rubio said.

Stay current - Follow FMT on WhatsApp, Google news and Telegram

Subscribe to our newsletter and get news delivered to your mailbox.