What the UN Just Approved
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has adopted a U.S.-drafted resolution that officially backs former President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan to reshape peace and governance in the Gaza Strip. The vote was 13 in favour, with Russia and China abstaining.
Key elements of the plan include:
- Deployment of an international “International Stabilization Force” (ISF) in Gaza to maintain security and oversee demilitarisation.
- Establishment of a transitional governance structure for Gaza, to be overseen by a newly formed “Board of Peace” chaired by Trump.
- A future pathway to a sovereign Palestinian state, contingent on governance reforms and redevelopment criteria.
Why This Vote Is Big
This is a rare moment of broad international support for a U.S.-led blueprint in the Middle East. By securing UNSC backing, the plan gains legitimacy and an institutional framework beyond bilateral U.S.-Israel initiatives. Trump described the approval as “one of the biggest in the history of the United Nations”. For Gaza and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the resolution signals a shift: from purely military or bilateral negotiations towards a multilateral reconstruction and governance phase.
Major Components to Watch
1. Demilitarisation & Security:
Hamas is expected to relinquish its arms-infrastructure; the ISF will oversee withdrawal zones and training of a new Palestinian security force.
2. Governance & Reconstruction:
The plan envisions Gaza being managed temporarily by technocrats under international supervision, rebuilding infrastructure, clearing rubble, and opening space for investment.
3. Sovereignty Question:
While the plan references a future Palestinian-state outcome, many Israeli ministers oppose that element. Arab states pushed to include language on Palestinian self-determination during negotiation.
Opposition and Challenges
Not everyone is on board. Hamas rejected the resolution, calling it “foreign guardianship” and refusing disarmament on the proposed terms. Israel’s far-right camp criticised the statehood references as a security threat. Other realistic hurdles: funding the rebuilding, agreeing on troop contributions for the ISF, and clarifying the legal authority of the transitional bodies.
What It Means for the Region
If executed, this plan could reshape the Gaza conflict’s trajectory:
- A functioning ISF could provide stability and humanitarian access.
- Reconstruction may offer a tangible future for Gazans beyond war.
- A clear governance transition could reintegrate Gaza with the broader Palestinian polity.
Yet, missteps or delays risk backsliding into violence, loss of credibility among Palestinian civilians, and diplomatic fragmentation.
Next Steps
- The ISF needs to be assembled and deployed swiftly — member-states must commit troops and logistics.
- Transitional governance mechanisms must be established, including selecting technocrats and securing transitional authority.
- Verification and demilitarisation processes must begin: monitoring Hamas’s compliance, dismantling weapon systems and tunnels.
- Reconstruction funding and contracts must be mobilised — without this, the stability vector collapses.
- A timetable for Palestinian reforms and a future statehood pathway must be developed transparently to retain legitimacy.
