US 'optimistic' for UN resolution on Gaza

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday he was optimistic that the UN Security Council would finalize a resolution on Gaza that would back an international security force.

"We feel optimistic that it's going to happen," Rubio told reporters after G7 foreign ministers met in Canada.

"I think we're making good progress on the language of the resolution and hopefully we'll have action on it very soon."

Rubio said the United States was speaking with different countries on ways to "balance their interests here, and how that's structured beyond just the security force."

The United States last week started circulating the draft resolution that would follow up on a ceasefire in the two-year war championed by President Donald Trump.

While the Trump administration has long criticized the United Nations, a number of countries have said that they need the authorization of the Security Council before they can deploy troops to Gaza.

Rubio said that the deployment for the international force was crucial both to allowing more assistance into the Palestinian territory and sidelining Hamas.

"If you really want to see a huge uptick, not just in humanitarian assistance, but redevelopment, you're going to need to have security," Rubio said. 
Meanwhile, Marco Rubio called Wednesday for international action to cut off weapons to Sudan's Rapid Support Forces, saying any backers would face repercussions.

"What's happening there is horrifying," Rubio told reporters after discussing Sudan with Group of Seven foreign ministers meeting in Canada.

Rubio placed blame on the RSF, which has been at war with the army since April 2023 and recently seized the key Sudanese city of El-Fasher, although it also said it backed a US proposal for a truce.

"I think the fundamental problem we have is that the RSF agrees to things and then never follows through with it," Rubio said.

"I think something needs to be done to cut off the weapons and support that the RSF is getting as they continue with their advances," he added.

Rubio said the RSF relied on outside money and support as it lacked its own manufacturing facilities for weapons.

"It's coming through some country and we know who they are and we're going to talk to them about it and make them understand that it's going to reflect poorly on them and it's going to reflect poorly on the world if we can't stop this," the top US diplomat said.

He declined when pressed to single out the United Arab Emirates, a close US partner.

Sudan's army has accused the UAE of supporting the RSF with weapons and mercenaries sent via African nations. The UAE has repeatedly denied the allegations.