Bangladesh Seeks to Join International Force Set to Be Deployed in Gaza

SadaNews - Bangladesh has stated that it informed the United States of its desire to join the international stabilization force set to be deployed in the Gaza Strip.

It added that its National Security Advisor, Khalil Rahman, met with two American diplomats, Alison Hooker and Paul Kapoor, in Washington.

A statement issued by the Government of Bangladesh indicated that the National Security Advisor "expressed Bangladesh's interest, in principle, in being part of the international stabilization force that will be deployed in Gaza." The statement did not mention the extent or nature of its proposed participation. No comment has yet been issued by the U.S. State Department.

The United Nations Security Council issued a resolution in mid-November authorizing what is known as the Peace Council and the countries working with it to establish a temporary international force for stabilization in Gaza where a ceasefire began last October.

The ceasefire process has not advanced beyond its initial phase, and there has been little progress on subsequent steps. Reports indicate that more than 400 Palestinians and three Israeli soldiers have been killed since the ceasefire came into effect.

All residents of Gaza, which number over two million, are living in temporary housing or damaged buildings in a piece of land that Israeli forces withdrew from and where Hamas has reestablished control.