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UN Security Council endorses Trump's 20-point Gaza plan with broad support
The United Nations Security Council approved a US-drafted resolution on Tuesday backing a 20-point stabilization plan for Gaza proposed by former US President Donald Trump, marking a rare moment of near-consensus in the divided body. Thirteen nations, including the UK, France, and Somalia, voted in favor, while Russia and China abstained-choosing not to veto the measure despite reservations.
A spokesperson for UN Secretary-General António Guterres called the adoption an "important step in consolidating the ceasefire," though Hamas swiftly rejected the resolution, condemning it as an attempt to impose "international guardianship" on Gaza. The militant group argued in a Telegram statement that the plan "strips the proposed force of neutrality" by aligning it with Israeli interests, particularly through provisions to disarm Palestinian factions.
Key provisions: International force and transitional governance
The resolution establishes an International Stabilisation Force (ISF), which the US claims has already garnered pledges of support from multiple unnamed countries. According to US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz, the ISF will focus on "securing the area, supporting Gaza's demilitarization, dismantling terrorist infrastructure, and ensuring civilian safety." The force will collaborate with Israel, Egypt, and a newly vetted Palestinian police unit-replacing Hamas-affiliated officers currently in control.
Alongside the ISF, the resolution creates a Board of Peace (BoP), a transitional body tasked with overseeing Gaza's reconstruction and humanitarian aid distribution. Funding for postwar recovery will draw from a World Bank-backed trust fund, while governance will transition to a Palestinian technocratic committee described as apolitical. Trump, who called the vote "historic," is expected to chair the BoP once its final membership is announced.
Divided reactions: Palestinian statehood and implementation challenges
Unlike earlier drafts, the resolution includes language on a "credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood," a concession to Arab and Muslim-majority nations that had lobbied for its inclusion. However, Israel remains opposed to Palestinian statehood, casting doubt on the plan's long-term viability. The Palestinian Authority (PA) urged "urgent and immediate" implementation, while the UN secretary-general's office stressed the need for "concrete steps on the ground" to advance a two-state solution.
Russia and China, though abstaining, criticized the resolution's lack of clarity on the ISF and BoP's composition, as well as its failure to explicitly reaffirm the two-state framework. Both nations suggested their restraint stemmed from the PA's endorsement and support from eight Arab and Muslim states, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey.
Ceasefire holds as death toll mounts
The resolution builds on a fragile ceasefire that took effect on 10 October, halting fighting that erupted after Hamas's 7 October 2023 attack on Israel, which killed 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage. Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry reports over 69,483 Palestinian deaths from Israeli military operations since then. Waltz acknowledged the ceasefire as a "fragile first step," while Hamas framed the UN plan as an extension of "occupation."
"This will go down as one of the biggest approvals in the History of the United Nations, will lead to further Peace all over the World, and is a moment of true Historic proportion!"
Donald Trump, via Truth Social
