Paris: France revealed on Thursday that it is working, in cooperation with Britain and in coordination with the United States, to finalize a UN Security Council resolution in the coming days that will lay the groundwork for the deployment of an international force in Gaza.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, earlier on Wednesday, two senior US advisors said that, with the US-brokered ceasefire in Gaza holding, planning has begun to send an international force to establish security in the Palestinian enclave. Speaking to reporters in Paris, French Foreign Ministry spokesman Pascal Confavro said that such a force would require a UN mandate to provide a solid basis in international law and facilitate potential contributions from countries.

He added: “France is working closely with its partners to establish such an international mission, which must be formalized through the adoption of a Security Council resolution.” A French Foreign Ministry spokesperson explained that ‘discussions are still ongoing, particularly with the Americans and the British, to present a draft resolution in the coming days.’

On the 10th of this month, Paris hosted talks with other European and Arab powers to formulate ideas for a post-war transitional phase in Gaza, including how to form an international force. Last month, the 193-member UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to endorse a declaration aimed at advancing a two-state solution, which supports the deployment of a temporary international stabilization mission mandated by the UN Security Council.