The United Nations Security Council has given the green light to Donald Trump’s groundbreaking Gaza peace plan, paving the way for international troops to be deployed in the region.
The momentous 13-0 vote, with Russia and China abstaining, authorises the second phase of Mr Trump’s 20-point plan to move forward. This crucial step involves establishing an International Stabilisation Force (ISF) tasked with demilitarising the zone and disarming Hamas.
In a triumphant Truth Social post, Mr Trump praised the “incredible” vote, declaring that it “will lead to further peace all over the world, and is a moment of true historic proportion”.
The former US President expressed his gratitude to all the countries involved and emphasised the significance of his Board of Peace being approved, which he will chair. “It will go down as one of the biggest approvals in the history of the United Nations,” he proclaimed.
Fragile ceasefire takes significant step forward
The UN’s backing marks a major milestone for the delicate ceasefire and ongoing efforts to determine Gaza’s future following two years of brutal conflict between Israel and Hamas, reports The Telegraph.
Arab and Muslim countries that had expressed interest in contributing troops to the international force had made it clear that Security Council authorisation was a non-negotiable requirement for their participation.
ISF to oversee borders, provide security, and demilitarise territory
Under the approved plan, the ISF will be responsible for overseeing Gaza’s borders, ensuring security, and demilitarising the territory. The authorisation for both the board and the force is set to expire at the end of 2027.
US ambassador to the UN, Mike Waltz, hailed the move as “historic and constructive,” emphasising its potential to chart a new course in the Middle East. “Today’s resolution represents another significant step towards a stable Gaza that will be able to prosper and an environment that will allow Israel to live in security,” he stated, stressing that “this is just the beginning”.
Resolution addresses Palestinian self-determination and statehood
During the nearly two-week-long negotiation process, Arab nations pushed the United States to strengthen the resolution’s language regarding Palestinian self-determination.
In response, the US revised the language to state that after the Palestinian Authority, which currently governs parts of the West Bank, implements reforms and the war-torn Gaza Strip is redeveloped, “the conditions may finally be in place for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood”.
The resolution further adds that “the United States will establish a dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians to agree on a political horizon for peaceful and prosperous coexistence.”
Netanyahu’s opposition and the challenge of disarming Hamas
The language regarding Palestinian statehood angered Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had vowed to oppose any attempt to establish a Palestinian state. He has long argued that creating a Palestinian state would reward Hamas and eventually lead to an even larger Hamas-run state on Israel’s borders.
One of the next critical questions is how to disarm Hamas, which has not fully accepted the notion of disarmament.
The UN’s backing of the plan authorises the use of “all necessary measures to carry out [the ISF’s] mandate” in compliance with international law, including military force.
As the international force establishes control and brings stability to the region, Israeli forces will withdraw from Gaza “based on standards, milestones, and timeframes linked to demilitarisation,” according to the resolution. These timeframes must be agreed upon by the ISF, Israeli forces, the US, and the guarantors of the ceasefire.
