NEW YORK — In a sweeping diplomatic move, the United Nations Security Council on Monday endorsed a U.S. drafted resolution aimed at moving beyond the fragile cease-fire in the Gaza Strip and laying groundwork for reconstruction and governance of the enclave.
The 15-member council voted 13 to 0, with only Russia and China abstaining but choosing not to vote the resolution. The decision gives new energy to the wider effort to stabilise Gaza after years of conflict, but many observers say crucial details remain murky.
What the resolution sets out
The document endorses parts of the 20-point peace plan proposed by Donald Trump, including the establishment of a temporary governing body called the Board of Peace and the deployment of an international force, the International Stabilization Force (ISF) to manage security, borders and reconstruction in Gaza.
“By vesting key authority in a transitional body accountable to the Council, the resolution charts a possible pathway for Palestinian self-determination,” U.S. Ambassador Michael Waltz told delegates.
Supporters say the vote marks an important step in ending war and restoring civilian life in Gaza. The World Bank, for example, had earlier indicated it backed the draft because it would allow financial institutions to work under a recognised international framework.
But for many Palestinian and Arab officials, it falls short. The Hamas movement rejected the resolution as an imposition of foreign control over Gaza, arguing the proposed ISF and governance arrangements strip local legitimacy. Russia’s ambassador likewise warned that the document grants too much power to a U.S.-led structure with little clarity on the Palestinian Authority’s role.
Key questions still unresolved
Despite passage, the plan’s implementation remains thinly detailed. The resolution does not specify a clear timeline for handing authority back to the Palestinian Authority, nor does it fully outline how disarmament of militant groups will be sought. Israel has reiterated it will press for Gaza to be demilitarised either “the easy way or the hard way,” according to its Prime Minister.
In the meantime, millions of Palestinians continue to live amid devastation. Images from Gaza City show displaced families in makeshift tents, waiting for reconstruction and aid to reach them.
The broader stakes
For the U.N. and its member states, the vote offers a rare chance to exert institutional influence after years of diplomatic paralysis over Gaza. But the success of the resolution depends now on whether troops, funding and governance structures can be mobilised all under the watchful eye of wary Palestinian and Israeli actors.
About the Author
