New York (Somalia Today) — The United Nations Security Council on Monday approved a comprehensive United States resolution, authorizing a UN stabilization force for Gaza and outlining a possible path toward Palestinian independence.
The vote marks a critical turning point for the region after more than two years of devastating war.
The 15-member Council adopted the measure with 13 votes in favor. Russia and China, both holding veto power, abstained rather than blocking the initiative.
As a result, the approval opens the door for international troops to secure the enclave and oversee the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
A mandate for transition
The resolution supports President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan, which proposes the establishment of a “Board of Peace” as a transitional authority. This body will oversee reconstruction and economic recovery until its mandate ends in late 2027.
The text also grants the stabilization force broad powers. These include securing borders, ensuring the flow of humanitarian aid, and enforcing the demilitarization of the territory.
U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz described the vote as a pivotal moment. He said the resolution offers a chance to “agree on a political horizon” where conflict gives way to diplomacy.
“It dismantles Hamas’ grip, it ensures Gaza rises free from terror’s shadow, prosperous and secure,” Waltz told the Council.
Arab and Muslim nations, including Egypt and Qatar, had pressed for the “swift adoption” of the proposal. Diplomats said Security Council authorization was a prerequisite for these nations to send troops to the peacekeeping mission.
Friction over statehood
Talks leading up to the vote were tense. Arab delegates and the Palestinian Authority pushed Washington to strengthen language on self-determination.
The final text states that once reforms are in place and redevelopment advances, conditions may allow for a “credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood.”
The Palestinian Authority welcomed the resolution and stated that it is ready to assist in its implementation. Yet the statehood language drew immediate criticism from Israeli leaders.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voiced strong opposition on Sunday. He argued that creating a Palestinian state would reward Hamas for the October 2023 attacks and pose a security threat to Israel’s borders.
Netanyahu vowed to demilitarize Gaza regardless of the diplomatic formula, warning that it would happen “the easy way or the hard way.”
Implementation challenges
Major obstacles still face the UN Gaza stabilization force. The resolution authorizes troops to use “all necessary measures” to decommission weapons and dismantle military infrastructure. Even so, Hamas has rejected the plan outright.
In a statement issued Monday, the group said it would not disarm. Hamas condemned the resolution as an “international guardianship mechanism” and insisted its fight against Israel remains legitimate. This stance raises the risk of direct clashes between international peacekeepers and armed factions inside the Strip.
The conflict, sparked by the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, has killed more than 69,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
Russia, despite abstaining, had circulated a rival proposal earlier in the week. Moscow called for stronger guarantees on Palestinian unity between the West Bank and Gaza.
Ultimately, the U.S. draft prevailed, establishing a timeline for Israeli withdrawal that was directly tied to the success of demilitarization efforts.
