In a significant diplomatic development, the United Nations Security Council has overwhelmingly endorsed a US-proposed plan for Gaza that includes deploying an international stabilisation force and creates potential pathways toward Palestinian statehood.
Historic Vote and International Response
The resolution passed with unanimous support from 13 council members, while permanent members China and Russia chose to abstain rather than exercise their veto power. This represents a rare moment of consensus on the long-standing Middle East conflict after years of diplomatic deadlock.
US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz celebrated the outcome, telling the council chamber that the resolution charts "a new course in the Middle East for Israelis and Palestinians and all the people of the region alike." The vote saw unusual alignment between the United States and Arab representatives, including Algeria's UN representative Amar Bendjama, who both supported the American-drafted measure.
Compromises and Contested Language
The approved text contains references to an independent Palestine, which served as a crucial concession to secure backing from Arab and Islamic nations. These countries are expected to contribute peacekeepers to the proposed international stabilisation force (ISF).
However, the language regarding Palestinian sovereignty remains deliberately vague. The resolution promises that once the Palestinian Authority implements reforms and Gaza reconstruction progresses, "the conditions may finally be in place for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood."
This conditional wording fell short of the firm commitment sought by European council members and Arab states, but delegates accepted the compromise to facilitate immediate humanitarian relief for Gaza's 2.2 million residents.
Israeli Opposition and Implementation Challenges
Just before the UN vote, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his government's adamant opposition to Palestinian statehood, creating uncertainty about whether Israel will cooperate with the UN-mandated proposals. Netanyahu had initially acquiesced to the resolution's wording during discussions with Washington but backtracked following protests from right-wing coalition partners.
The resolution establishes several mechanisms with uncertain implementation:
- A "board of peace" chaired by Donald Trump with unspecified membership
- A Palestinian technocratic committee to govern Gaza day-to-day
- An international stabilisation force authorised to disarm groups like Hamas
European diplomats emphasised the urgency of establishing the Palestinian technocratic committee and clarifying the legal framework for peacekeeping operations. No country has yet committed troops to the stabilisation force, and potential contributors have expressed reservations about confronting Hamas directly.
The resolution's passage breaks a two-year diplomatic impasse during which at least 71,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict, prompting genocide allegations from UN investigators and human rights organisations.
