The UN Security Council on Monday approved a The American plan for Gaza which authorizes an international stabilization force to provide security in the devastated territory and envisages a possible future path to an independent Palestinian state.
Russia, which had circulated a rival resolution, abstained, as did China, in the 13-0 vote. The United States and other countries hoped Moscow would not use its veto over the United Nations’ most powerful body to block adoption of the resolution.
The vote was a crucial next step for the fragile ceasefire and efforts to define Gaza’s future after two years of war between Israel and Hamas. Arab and other Muslim countries that have expressed interest in contributing troops to an international force have said Security Council authorization is essential for their participation.
The ceasefire took effect on October 10, but accusations of violations of the terms by Hamas and Israel threatened to upend the agreement in the weeks after its implementation.
The first phase of the deal called for Hamas to release all living and deceased hostages in exchange for some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Although the living hostages were returned on time, the remains of some of the dead hostages were not returned – with Hamas and US officials citing difficulties in recovering some of the remains amid destruction in the Gaza Strip – which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said was a violation.
There have also been outbreaks of violence in Gaza, including Israeli airstrikes, which authorities said were retaliation for Hamas attacks on Israeli forces, since the deal took effect. International advocates have also accused Israel of failing to meet its obligation to provide all aid promised to Gaza under the deal.
The US resolution supports President Trump’s 20-point ceasefire plan, which calls for the creation of a Peace Council, as a transitional authority that Mr Trump would lead. It also authorizes the stabilization force and gives it a broad mandate, including border surveillance, security and demilitarization of the territory. The authorization of the board of directors and the power expires at the end of 2027.
“Congratulations to the world on the incredible vote of the United Nations Security Council, moments ago, recognizing and approving the PEACE COUNCIL, which will be chaired by me and include the most powerful and respected leaders in the world,” Mr. Trump wrote on social media after the UN vote. He thanked Security Council members, including Russia and China, and said: “Council members, as well as many other exciting announcements, will be made in the coming weeks. »
Hamas criticized the UN’s adoption of the plan, saying that “entrusting the international force with tasks and roles inside the Gaza Strip, including disarming the resistance, deprives it of its neutrality and turns it into a party to the conflict in favor of occupation,” according to Reuters.
“Any international force, if established, must be stationed only at the borders to separate forces and monitor the ceasefire, and must be fully under the supervision of the United Nations,” Hamas said, according to Al Jazeera.
During nearly two weeks of negotiations on the U.S. resolution, Arab nations and Palestinians pressured the United States to strengthen initially weak language on Palestinian self-determination.
The United States revised it to say that after the Palestinian Authority – which now governs parts of the West Bank – made reforms and after redevelopment of the devastated Gaza Strip progressed, “conditions could finally be met for a credible path to self-determination and Palestinian statehood.”
“The United States will establish a dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians to agree on a political horizon for peaceful and prosperous coexistence,” he adds.
This language made you angry Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahuwho vowed on Sunday to oppose any attempt to create a Palestinian state. He has long argued that the creation of a Palestinian state would reward Hamas and eventually lead to an even larger Hamas-led state on Israel’s borders.
One of the keys to the adoption of the resolution was the support of Arab and Muslim nations who are demanding a ceasefire and who could potentially contribute to the international force. The U.S. mission to the U.N. on Friday distributed a joint statement with Qatar, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Jordan and Turkey calling for “prompt adoption” of the U.S. proposal.
The vote came amid hopes that the fragile ceasefire in Gaza would be maintained after a war sparked by Hamas’ surprise terrorist attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed around 1,200 people. The Israeli offensive, which has lasted more than two years, has killed more than 69,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and fighters but says the majority are women and children.
Last week, Russia suddenly circulated a competing, tougher-language proposal supporting a Palestinian state alongside Israel and emphasizing that the West Bank and Gaza should be reunited as a state under the Palestinian Authority.
He also removed references to the transitional council and asked UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to propose options for an international force to ensure security in Gaza and implement the ceasefire plan, emphasizing the importance of the Security Council’s role.
The American resolution calls for the stabilization force to ensure “the process of demilitarization of the Gaza Strip” and “the permanent decommissioning of the weapons of non-state armed groups”. A big question is how to disarm Hamas, which has not fully accepted this approach.
It authorizes the force “to use all measures necessary to carry out its mandate” while respecting international law, which is the UN’s language for the use of military force.
The resolution says the stabilization troops will help secure border areas, alongside a Palestinian police force they have trained and controlled, and will coordinate with other countries to secure the flow of humanitarian aid. He says the force should consult and cooperate closely with neighboring Egypt and Israel.
As the international force establishes control and brings stability, the resolution says Israeli forces will withdraw from Gaza “based on the standards, milestones and timelines related to demilitarization.” These must be accepted by the stabilization force, the Israeli forces, the United States and the guarantors of the ceasefire, he said.
