The Biden administration is encouraging Arab states to participate in a peacekeeping force that would deploy in Gaza once the war ends, in the hope of filling a vacuum in the strip until a credible Palestinian security apparatus is established.

The US has been discussing the plans with Arab states. Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Morocco are considering the initiative, but President Joe Biden is not willing to deploy American troops into Gaza, western and Arab officials said.

“Arab states have said it should be US-led so the US is trying to work out how it can lead it without having boots on the ground,” said a western official. “Three Arab states have had initial discussions, including Egypt, the UAE and Morocco, but they would want the US to recognise a Palestinian state first.”