The United Nations Security Council has approved a US-drafted resolution aimed at bringing peace to the Gaza Strip. The resolution, which was adopted with 13 votes in favor, authorizes the establishment of an international stabilization force to oversee the demilitarization of the Palestinian enclave. Russia and China abstained from voting, citing concerns over the document’s practicality and potential impact on the two-state solution.
The resolution endorses US President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan to end the Gaza War and legitimizes the Board of Peace, a transitional governance body. The international stabilization force, which will operate under the Board of Peace’s command, will include contingents from Arab countries and other nations. Its mandate includes providing security, training a new Palestinian police force, and overseeing demilitarization and redevelopment efforts in Gaza.
US Ambassador Mike Waltz welcomed the resolution, describing it as a significant step towards a stable Gaza that can prosper and allow Israel to live in security. He emphasized that the international stabilization force will support the demilitarization of Gaza and dismantle terrorist infrastructure.
However, Russia’s Ambassador to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, criticized the document, saying it relies too heavily on US assurances and lacks clarity on the working methods of the Board of Peace and the international stabilization force. He urged UN members to ensure that the resolution does not undermine the two-state solution or become a pretext for unbridled experiments by the US and Israel in the occupied Palestinian territory.
Hamas, which controls Gaza, also denounced the resolution, arguing that the international stabilization force’s mandate to disarm militant groups strips it of neutrality and turns it into a party to the conflict in favor of the occupation. The resolution’s adoption marks a significant development in efforts to resolve the Gaza conflict, but its implementation and impact remain to be seen. The international community will be watching closely to see how the resolution is carried out and whether it can bring lasting peace to the region.