In a major diplomatic victory for the Trump administration, the United Nations Security Council voted 13-0 on Monday to adopt a U.S.-drafted resolution that endorses President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan for Gaza’s future. Russia and China abstained but did not use their veto power, allowing the measure to pass and giving crucial international legitimacy to Washington’s vision for moving beyond the fragile ceasefire that began last month.
The resolution authorizes two key mechanisms: a transitional “Board of Peace,” which President Trump will chair, and a temporary International Stabilization Force (ISF) that will deploy to Gaza to maintain security, oversee the disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups, protect civilians, and ensure the safe delivery of humanitarian aid. Both the Board and the ISF are authorized to operate until the end of 2027.
Speaking after the vote, U.S. Ambassador to the UN Michael Waltz described the ISF as “a strong coalition of peacekeepers, many from Muslim-majority nations like Indonesia, Azerbaijan, and others,” operating under unified command. Arab and Muslim countries had previously insisted that any international force required explicit UN backing before they would contribute troops.
President Trump celebrated the outcome on social media, calling it “one of the biggest approvals in the History of the United Nations” and promising to announce the Board of Peace members and other details in the coming weeks.
Key Elements of the Resolution
- Demilitarization: The ISF is tasked with permanently removing weapons from Hamas and other non-state armed groups—a longstanding Israeli demand.
- Reconstruction and Governance: The Board of Peace will coordinate massive rebuilding efforts in Gaza, which was devastated by two years of war, while a technocratic committee of Palestinians handles day-to-day civil administration.
- Palestinian Authority Reforms: Authority will eventually transfer to a reformed Palestinian Authority (PA) once it completes an unspecified reform program.
- Path to Statehood: In a concession to Arab nations and Palestinians, the resolution states that after Gaza is rebuilt and the PA is reformed, “the conditions may finally be in place for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood.” However, no timeline or firm commitment is included.
- Israeli Withdrawal: Israeli forces will leave Gaza in phases tied to agreed milestones on demilitarization.
Mixed Reactions
The vote followed intense negotiations. Arab countries and Palestinian representatives successfully pushed the U.S. to include stronger language about eventual Palestinian self-determination. A joint statement from Qatar, Egypt, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Jordan, and Turkey urged swift adoption of the plan.
Russia and China abstained, citing concerns that the resolution sidelines the Security Council’s traditional role and does not sufficiently emphasize an immediate two-state solution. Russia’s ambassador warned against measures that could sound “a death knell for the two-state solution,” while China argued that “Palestinian sovereignty and ownership are not fully reflected.”
Hamas strongly rejected the plan both before and after the vote, calling it “an attempt to impose international guardianship” over Gaza and accusing any force involved in disarmament of losing neutrality and becoming “a party to the conflict in favor of the occupation.” Some Hamas officials have said fighters will resist giving up even light weapons, fearing retaliation from rival factions.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who opposes Palestinian statehood, nevertheless welcomed the resolution’s focus on demilitarization, repeating that Gaza will be disarmed “the easy way or the hard way.”
Challenges Ahead
Despite the diplomatic breakthrough, significant hurdles remain. The resolution is short on specifics about timelines, the exact nature of PA reforms, and how Hamas will actually be disarmed without renewed fighting. Western diplomats told reporters that the lack of detail could complicate implementation on the ground.
For now, the UN-backed plan offers the clearest international framework yet for preserving Gaza’s month-old ceasefire and beginning the long process of reconstruction and political transition. Whether it can deliver lasting stability in one of the world’s most intractable conflicts remains an open—and urgent—question.
