UNSC Endorses US Gaza Plan, Authorizes International Force

Landmark Security Council Resolution on Gaza

The United Nations Security Council on Monday passed a US-drafted resolution endorsing President Donald Trump's plan to end the Gaza war and authorizing the deployment of an international stabilization force to the Palestinian enclave. The vote follows Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas agreeing last month to the first phase of Trump's "20-Point Plan" - a ceasefire and hostage release agreement ending two years of war. However, the UN resolution is seen as granting legitimacy to transitional governance bodies and is crucial for reassuring countries considering sending troops to Gaza.

Details and Implications of the Resolution

The resolution text indicates that UN Security Council member states can participate in the Trump-led Board of Peace, envisioned as a transitional authority to oversee Gaza's reconstruction and economic recovery. The resolution also authorizes the establishment of an international stabilization force responsible for promoting Gaza's demilitarization, including decommissioning weapons and destroying military infrastructure. Hamas issued a statement reiterating that it would not disarm, asserting that its actions against Israel are legitimate resistance. This could lead to a confrontation between the militant group and the international force authorized by the resolution. "This resolution imposes an international guardianship mechanism on the Gaza Strip, which our people and its factions reject," Hamas said in a statement released after the resolution's passage.

Reactions and Positions of Key Players

US Ambassador to the UN, Mike Waltz, said the resolution, which lists Trump's "20-Point Plan" as an annex, "opens a possible path to self-determination for the Palestinians… a path where olive branches will replace rockets, and the parties hopefully will reach a consensus on a political horizon." "The resolution will break Hamas's control, ensure Gaza is freed from the shadow of terror, and achieves prosperity and security," Waltz told the Security Council before the vote. Russia, which possesses veto power in the Security Council, abstained from the vote after previously hinting it might oppose the resolution, clearing the way for its passage. China also abstained. The Palestinian Authority released a statement welcoming the resolution and expressing its readiness to participate in its implementation. Diplomats said the PA's endorsement of the resolution last week was key to preventing a Russian veto.

A Path to Palestinian Statehood?

The resolution sparked controversy in Israel because it mentions the prospect of a future Palestinian state. The resolution text states that "once the Palestinian Authority implements a reform plan and progress is made in the reconstruction of Gaza, the conditions needed for a credible path to self-determination and statehood for the Palestinians may eventually be available." The resolution notes that "the United States will encourage Israel and the Palestinians to engage in dialogue to reach a consensus on a political horizon of peaceful and prosperous coexistence." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday reiterated Israel's continued opposition to the establishment of a Palestinian state, pledging to achieve the demilitarization of Gaza “in a gentle or forceful manner,” under pressure from right-wing members of his government.