US to start UN negotiations on Thursday on international Gaza force mandate

The United Nations Security Council on Thursday will start negotiations on a U.S.-drafted resolution to endorse President Donald Trump's Gaza peace plan, said a senior U.S. government official, and authorize a two-year mandate for a transitional governance body and international stabilization force.



The U.S. formally circulated the draft resolution to the 15 council members late on Wednesday and has said it has regional support from Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates for the text.



"The message is: if the region is with us on this and the region is with us on how this resolution is constructed, then we believe that the council should be as well," the senior U.S. government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters.



A council resolution needs at least nine votes in favor and no vetoes by Russia, China, France, Britain or the United States to be adopted.