France offers to deploy stabilisation mission in Gaza to replace Israeli forces

France is promoting an initiative to establish an “International Stabilisation Mission” in Gaza, which would replace the Israeli Defense Forces in the territory and focus on disarming Hamas once the war ends.

The draft of the French proposal reads that the main goal of the initiative is to implement an international declaration adopted in July calling for the creation of two states, the disarmament of Hamas, and the gradual transfer of internal security responsibilities in Gaza to the Palestinian Authority, Caliber.Az reports via Israeli media.

The draft specifies preferred countries for the transitional mission: Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar. The mission would be temporary, operate under a UN mandate, and begin work as soon as conditions allow.

In July in New York, a declaration was adopted stipulating that a temporary international mission should be deployed in Gaza with the participation of the Palestinian National Authority and under UN auspices. The initiative was led by France and Saudi Arabia, received support from Arab countries, and was later endorsed through a UN General Assembly resolution.

The deployment of the mission is planned in two stages. After a ceasefire is achieved, the mission will monitor the truce, protect civilians, gradually disarm Hamas, and facilitate humanitarian access and the provision of basic services in coordination with the Palestinian Authority and UN agencies.

By Khagan Isayev