UN Security Council adopts US resolution on Trump’s Gaza plan

News Desk 

New York:The UN Security Council on Tuesday adopted a United States–sponsored resolution authorizing the creation of an international force for Gaza and a transitional governing body, marking the most significant diplomatic move yet aimed at stabilizing the enclave after two years of devastating Israeli military operations.

The resolution passed with 13 votes in favour and none against, while China and Russia abstained. Pakistan voted in support.

The measure builds on Washington’s 20-point plan and seeks to restore security, ensure humanitarian access, and begin long-term reconstruction and institutional reforms in Gaza.

Following intense pressure from Arab and Muslim countries, the revised text includes a reference to the prospect of a future Palestinian state — a clause that triggered a strong backlash from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose coalition partners threatened to quit the government over the language.

“Regarding a Palestinian state, our opposition … has not changed one bit,” Netanyahu said on Sunday.

According to the resolution, an International Stabilization Force (ISF) will be established with an initial two-year mandate to work alongside Israel and Egypt.

Its duties will include securing Gaza’s borders, protecting civilians, facilitating humanitarian aid, supporting the training of a reconstituted Palestinian police force, and overseeing the decommissioning of weapons held by Hamas and other armed groups.

The text indicates Israeli forces would fully withdraw once they have achieved security and operational control across the territory.

The resolution also establishes a transitional governance mechanism, the Board of Peace, linked to the US peace framework that underpinned the October 8 ceasefire.

Chaired under President Donald Trump’s peace plan, the Board would coordinate security, humanitarian, and reconstruction efforts and steer Gaza toward a reformed Palestinian governing authority. The document outlines a pathway toward Palestinian self-determination and eventual statehood, tied to governance and reconstruction benchmarks.

More than 69,483 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since October 2023 during Israel’s military campaign, which Palestinian and international groups have described as genocidal.

The resolution provides international legal authority for a multinational security mission made up largely of Muslim-majority nations — a key requirement for potential troop contributors and donor governments. It marks a transition from active war to stabilization, combining security guarantees with governance reforms and the rebuilding of essential services.

Ahead of the vote, US Ambassador Mike Waltz warned that failure to adopt the resolution risked renewed violence and the collapse of the fragile ceasefire.

The resolution reflects a convergence of recent proposals calling for steps toward a permanent ceasefire, release of hostages, demilitarization of armed groups, and reconstruction led by reformed Palestinian institutions.

Negotiations inside the Council centred on the force’s command structure, sequencing of security responsibilities, and the scope of involvement of the Palestinian Authority.