Israel-Gaza: France proposes a resolution to the UN for a ceasefire

France on Tuesday proposed a resolution to the UN Security Council, in coordination with Jordan and Egypt, which are calling for a ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Gaza.

With this request, she takes the risk of pointing the United States of Joe Biden who until now veto a joint declaration.

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On the occasion of a meeting between the French President, Emmanuel Macron, his Egyptian counterpart, Abdel Fattah Al-Sissi, and, by videoconference, King Abdullah II of Jordan, “the three countries agreed on three simple elements: the shooting must stop, the time has come for a ceasefire and the UN Security Council must take up the subject, ”via a resolution, reported the Elysee.

According to diplomats in New York, France raised the draft resolution during a closed-door Security Council meeting, the fourth in eight days.

Several member countries of the Security Council told Agence France Presse on Tuesday evening that they had not yet received the French text, which would be "short and simple", according to a diplomatic source.

Support from Jordan

Beyond a call for a "cessation of hostilities", he would ask "to grant humanitarian access to people who need it," another diplomat also reported on condition of anonymity.

"The sooner the better," replied a diplomat - also on condition of anonymity - when asked when France would be able to ask for a vote in the Security Council.

France, which has been calling for a rapid ceasefire for several days, has said it supports Egyptian-led mediation.

Abdel Fattah Al-Sissi, present for two days in Paris on the occasion of a summit on African economies, and Emmanuel Macron discussed at length on this subject on Monday and decided the next day to seek Jordan's support.

The French head of state also spoke with his Tunisian counterpart, Kaïs Saied, whose country currently sits as a non-permanent member of the Security Council and who as such represents the Arab world.

US opposition

France's proposed resolution comes as the United States has been blocking the United Nations Security Council for eight days on the adoption of a simple declaration on the conflict, according to diplomatic sources.

Three resolutions proposed by China, Tunisia and Norway were rejected by the United States.

During a closed-door meeting, "we heard the proposal made by our French colleague in the Council and, for China, we certainly support all efforts facilitating an end to the crisis and a return to peace in the Middle East. Chinese Ambassador to the United Nations Zhang Jun, President-in-Office of the Council in May, told a few journalists.

He added that the last text of the declaration proposed by his country, Norway and Tunisia, rejected again Monday by the Americans, remained on the table of the Security Council.

Deputy Russian Ambassador to the UN Dmitry Polyanskiy told AFP that in addition to China's explicit support for the French draft resolution, Russia was also prepared to adopt the text.

Emergency debate Thursday

At the end of 2017, a resolution was submitted to the UN Security Council on the status of Jerusalem after its recognition as the capital of Israel by former US President Donald Trump.

Several foreign ministers from member countries are expected Thursday at the United Nations General Assembly for an urgent and in-person debate on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in which Secretary General Antonio Guterres is due to take part.

Egypt, Turkey, Jordan, Pakistan, Tunisia and Algeria, which currently chairs the Group of Arab States at the UN, are among the countries announced at the ministerial level.