WASHINGTON — In a pivotal move to consolidate a fragile ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the United Nations Security Council on Monday adopted a U.S.-drafted resolution endorsing President Donald Trump's 20-point peace plan, authorizing the creation of a transitional "Board of Peace" and an International Stabilization Force (ISF) to oversee demilitarization, reconstruction, and security in the war-torn enclave. The measure passed with 13 votes in favor and two abstentions from Russia and China, marking a diplomatic triumph for the Trump administration but drawing sharp criticism from Hamas, which decried it as an imposition of "international guardianship" that undermines Palestinian sovereignty.
The resolution, formally known as UNSC Resolution 2803, builds on the initial phase of Trump's comprehensive plan, which Israel and Hamas tentatively accepted last month. That phase, implemented on October 10, 2025, established a ceasefire halting the two-year conflict that erupted after Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which killed about 1,200 people and led to the abduction of 251 hostages. Israel's subsequent military campaign has resulted in over 69,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry, displacing nearly the entire population of 2.3 million and reducing much of the territory to rubble. The hostage-release deal under the first phase saw 150 captives freed in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, but sporadic violations—such as Israeli airstrikes and Hamas rocket fire—have tested the truce's endurance.
Hamas, the Islamist militant group that has governed Gaza since 2007, issued a swift rebuke via Telegram shortly after the vote, labeling the resolution a "dangerous" mechanism that "imposes an international guardianship on the Gaza Strip, which our people and their factions reject." The group argued that empowering the ISF with roles inside Gaza, including the disarmament of "resistance" factions, "strips it of its neutrality and turns it into a party to the conflict in favor of the occupation." Hamas insisted that any international presence must be limited to border monitoring under full UN supervision, emphasizing that its weapons are "tied to the existence of the occupation" and that disarmament discussions require guarantees of Palestinian statehood. The statement, echoed by allied factions like Palestinian Islamic Jihad, underscores deep-seated fears that the plan sidelines Palestinian input and perpetuates external control, potentially setting the stage for renewed clashes if the ISF attempts enforcement.
The resolution's core provisions outline a structured transition for Gaza's future. It establishes the Board of Peace as a transitional authority, chaired by Trump, to supervise a "technocratic, apolitical committee of competent Palestinians" for day-to-day governance. This body, with a mandate until December 31, 2027—extendable by the Council—will coordinate reconstruction funded by a World Bank-supported trust fund, aiming to rebuild infrastructure devastated by the war, including hospitals, schools, and water systems. The ISF, a multinational coalition under unified command, is authorized to deploy as early as January 2026, with contributions pledged or discussed from Muslim-majority nations like Egypt, Indonesia, Azerbaijan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Türkiye. Its mandate empowers the force to "use all necessary measures" to secure borders, protect civilians, facilitate unhindered humanitarian aid, train a vetted Palestinian police force to replace Hamas's security apparatus, and oversee the "permanent decommissioning of weapons from non-state armed groups."
U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz hailed the adoption as a "historic and constructive resolution" that "dismantles Hamas' grip" and paves the way for a "stable Gaza that will prosper" while ensuring Israel's security. He emphasized the plan's alignment with Arab and Islamic states, whose support was secured through concessions like references to a "credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood" once the Palestinian Authority enacts reforms and Gaza's redevelopment advances. Trump himself celebrated on Truth Social, calling it "one of the biggest approvals in the History of the United Nations" and promising "many more exciting announcements" on Board membership. The U.S. expressed gratitude to backers including Qatar, Egypt, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Türkiye, and Jordan, noting their role in providing troops and funding.
Yet, the vote exposed fractures within the Council. Russia's Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya, after abstaining, criticized the measure for handing "complete control" to a U.S.-led initiative without clear UN oversight, warning it blesses Washington's "promises" on opaque terms. China echoed concerns, calling for more details on the Board's structure and the ISF's composition to ensure equitable participation. Moscow had floated a rival draft emphasizing immediate Palestinian Authority control and UN-led options for stabilization, but it withdrew the push for a vote to avoid derailing the process. Critics decried the resolution as a "denial of Palestinian self-determination," arguing it entrenches U.S.-Israeli influence without addressing core issues like settlements in the West Bank or the right of return for refugees.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, facing pressure from his far-right coalition, voiced unease over the statehood language, vowing to block any "unacceptable" concessions that could lead to Palestinian sovereignty—a stance that contrasts with the resolution's conditional pathway. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority welcomed the plan, pledging cooperation in implementation and reforms to unify governance across Gaza and the West Bank. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described the adoption as an "important step in consolidating the ceasefire," urging all parties to prioritize aid delivery amid Gaza's humanitarian crisis, where over 90% of children show signs of trauma and flooding exacerbates displacement.
The plan's second phase envisions Israeli forces withdrawing to a "security perimeter" along Gaza's eastern border, contingent on demilitarization milestones agreed with the ISF, U.S. guarantors, and Egypt. Reconstruction efforts, estimated at $50–90 billion by World Bank assessments, will focus on housing for 1.9 million displaced residents and economic revival through job creation in non-militarized sectors. However, implementation hinges on resolving flashpoints: Hamas's refusal to disarm without statehood assurances, Israel's demand for ironclad security guarantees, and regional dynamics, including Saudi Arabia's insistence on progress toward Palestinian independence as a precondition for normalization with Israel.
As the ISF prepares for deployment, analysts warn of risks. The force's broad powers could provoke resistance if perceived as biased, echoing past UN missions where mandates clashed with local actors. With Trump's upcoming meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, funding commitments could solidify, but the resolution's success ultimately depends on bridging the chasm between occupation-era grievances and visions of coexistence.
This development arrives at a precarious juncture, two years after the war's onset, with Gaza's GDP contracted by 80% and famine risks looming despite aid corridors. While the resolution offers a blueprint for stability, its enforceability remains untested, potentially defining not just Gaza's trajectory but the broader Middle East peace architecture for decades.
