UN Council to Vote on International Gaza Force Plan

The UN Security Council is expected to vote on Monday on a US-drafted resolution supporting Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan, including the deployment of an international force, amid warnings from Washington that inaction could trigger renewed fighting.

The draft resolution — revised multiple times during intense negotiations — formally “endorses” the plan that helped establish a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas on 10 October in the war-ravaged Gaza Strip.

After two years of conflict that began with Hamas’s attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, large parts of Gaza now lie in ruins.

The latest version of the text authorises the creation of an International Stabilization Force (ISF) to work alongside Israel, Egypt and newly trained Palestinian police to secure border areas and oversee the demilitarisation of the Strip. The force would also support the permanent decommissioning of weapons held by armed groups, protect civilians and maintain humanitarian aid corridors.

The draft further proposes a transitional governing body for Gaza — a “Board of Peace” — with a mandate running until the end of 2027, which Trump would theoretically chair.

The revised text also references a potential future Palestinian state, stating that once Palestinian Authority reforms are implemented and reconstruction progresses, “conditions may finally be in place for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood.” Israel has rejected any such outcome, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterating on Sunday that his government remains opposed to a Palestinian state.

The vote is scheduled for 5pm (2200 GMT) Monday.

Russian Objections

Russia, which holds veto power, has circulated a competing draft, arguing that the US version does not go far enough in supporting Palestinian statehood. Moscow’s text calls on the Council to reaffirm its “unwavering commitment to the two-state solution.” It does not authorise an international force or governing board, instead asking the UN Secretary-General to present options on those issues.

The United States has stepped up efforts to secure support for its resolution, criticising what it calls attempts to “sow discord” within the Council. Washington says several Arab and Muslim-majority nations — including Qatar, Egypt, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Jordan and Turkey — have backed the draft.

Diplomats say the US resolution is likely to pass despite Russian criticism and reservations from some Council members. Analysts suggest that while China and Russia may register their concerns, they are more likely to abstain than veto a text endorsed by key Arab states.