New York, November 18, 2025 – In a pivotal session at the United Nations headquarters, the Security Council on Monday adopted a U.S.-drafted resolution (S/RES/2803) that endorses President Donald Trump's 20-point "Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict." The measure, passed with 13 votes in favor and abstentions from Russia and China, establishes a transitional Board of Peace (BoP) chaired by Trump and authorizes an International Stabilization Force (ISF) to oversee security, demilitarization, and reconstruction in the Gaza Strip. The vote marks a rare moment of consensus in a deeply polarized body, potentially paving the way for the first international deployment in Gaza since the 2005 Israeli disengagement, but it also underscores lingering tensions over Palestinian sovereignty and the role of external powers.
The resolution arrives at a fragile juncture in the Israel-Hamas war, which erupted on October 7, 2023, with Hamas's attack killing 1,200 Israelis and taking 250 hostages. Israel's subsequent offensive has devastated Gaza, displacing nearly 2 million Palestinians and causing tens of thousands of deaths. A ceasefire brokered in October 2025 under Trump's plan has held tenuously, but sporadic violence persists, exacerbated by winter floods and severe humanitarian shortages in northern Gaza. The UN vote, held under Guyana's presidency, reflects months of high-stakes diplomacy involving Arab states, which lobbied for references to Palestinian self-determination to secure their support for troop contributions.
The Resolution: A Blueprint for Transition
At its core, Resolution 2803 welcomes the establishment of the Board of Peace (BoP) as a transitional governance administration tasked with coordinating Gaza's redevelopment until December 31, 2027, or until the Palestinian Authority completes reforms enabling a full handover. Trump, who unveiled the 20-point plan in September 2025, will chair the BoP, which will oversee a technocratic Palestinian committee for day-to-day administration, humanitarian aid, and economic recovery. The plan, forged through intensive talks with Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Türkiye, Pakistan, and Indonesia, envisions raising tens of billions in reconstruction funding from Gulf states and international donors.
Complementing the BoP, the resolution authorizes member states to form the International Stabilization Force (ISF), a non-UN enforcement mission of up to 20,000 troops deployable by early 2026 under unified command acceptable to the BoP. Operating in coordination with Israel and Egypt, the ISF's mandate includes securing borders, protecting civilians and aid corridors, training a vetted Palestinian police force, and enforcing Gaza's complete demilitarization, including the destruction of Hamas military infrastructure. Unlike traditional UN peacekeeping missions, the ISF is empowered to use all necessary measures to achieve its objectives.
The text also gestures toward long-term political horizons, stating that after reforms and redevelopment, conditions may finally be in place for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood, with the United States committing to facilitate renewed Israeli-Palestinian dialogue. This language, added at the insistence of Arab partners, helped secure broad support but remains deliberately vague on timelines.
Waltz's Advocacy: "Douse the Flames"
Before the vote, U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz delivered a forceful address, describing the resolution as a bold, pragmatic blueprint born from President Trump's diplomatic initiative. He urged the Council not to let hesitation become the true enemy of peace and credited intensive negotiations with key Muslim-majority nations for producing a workable framework that could replace rockets with olive branches.
After adoption, Waltz welcomed the outcome as another significant step toward a stable Gaza, emphasizing that the Board of Peace, led by President Trump, remains the cornerstone of the effort. He highlighted the ISF's role in stabilizing the security environment, supporting demilitarization, dismantling terrorist infrastructure, decommissioning weapons, and protecting Palestinian civilians.
President Trump celebrated the vote on Truth Social, calling it one of the biggest approvals in UN history and a moment of true historic proportion that would lead to further peace across the region. The White House described Trump as the "Peace President" whose vision made the breakthrough possible.
Abstentions and Sharp Critiques
While no permanent member exercised its veto, Russia and China abstained and delivered pointed criticisms. Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia argued that the resolution lacks clarity on the timeline for transferring control to the Palestinian Authority and grants the BoP and ISF near-total autonomy without regard for the views of Ramallah. He compared the arrangement to colonial-era practices under the British Mandate, when Palestinian opinions were systematically ignored. Nebenzia noted that Moscow chose not to press its own counter-draft because of strong backing for the U.S. text from Arab and Muslim countries.
China's Ambassador Fu Cong echoed these concerns, calling the resolution deeply worrisome and vague on critical elements. He stressed that Palestine is barely visible in the document and that Palestinian sovereignty and ownership are not adequately reflected.
Reactions Across the Spectrum
Hamas immediately rejected the resolution as an attempt to impose international guardianship and vowed to resist any forced disarmament without ironclad guarantees of statehood. The Palestinian Authority, however, has previously signaled acceptance of a temporary technocratic administration to replace Hamas governance.
On the ground in Gaza, opinions remain divided. Some Palestinian voices welcomed the prospect of international oversight as the only realistic way to end Hamas's militarized rule and begin reconstruction, while others denounced it as a new form of occupation.
Israel has expressed cautious support for the security provisions but continues to oppose any pathway to Palestinian statehood, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterating that Gaza must remain permanently demilitarized.
Looking Ahead
The resolution's success now depends on rapid formation of the ISF, substantial reconstruction funding (particularly from Gulf states), and genuine inclusion of reformed Palestinian institutions. Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE, and other Arab states are expected to play central roles in both financing and troop contributions, with Indonesia and Türkiye also under consideration.
Humanitarian agencies have warned that winter conditions and ongoing restrictions on aid could trigger a catastrophic famine if the new mechanisms do not deliver quickly. UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the vote as an important step but stressed that lasting peace requires parallel progress on a two-state solution.
As the first contingents of the International Stabilization Force prepare for deployment and reconstruction planning accelerates, the coming months will determine whether this ambitious framework becomes a turning point for Gaza, or yet another chapter in a century-long conflict.
