Asian Mail News Monitoring desk
A United Nations Security Council resolution outlining a plan for a multinational force to be stationed in the Gaza Strip passed at a Security Council meeting on the 17th. The resolution grants legal authority to a U.S.-led initiative aimed at rebuilding Gaza, which has been reduced to ruins by war. The New York Times, NYT, described it as “a significant diplomatic victory for the Donald Trump administration.”
The Security Council approved President Trump’s Gaza peace plan during a meeting held at the UN headquarters in New York on the afternoon of the same day. All 15 member states participated, with 13 votes in favor and none against. China and Russia abstained. Abstentions did not affect the resolution’s passage.
Since the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the U.S. has shared and negotiated a draft Security Council resolution with member states, supporting U.S. President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace vision. According to foreign media reports, the draft resolution includes provisions granting the U.S. and others broad authority to manage and provide security for Gaza until the end of 2027. It also assigns administrative authority to a transitional governing body, the Peace Committee, tasked with leading Gaza’s reconstruction.
President Trump is likely to head the Peace Committee. An international stabilization force will enter Gaza to demilitarize the region. Trump previously unveiled a “20-point plan to secure peace in Gaza” last month to end the war, contingent on dismantling Hamas and immediately releasing all hostages, with a third party governing and overseeing reconstruction. This plan formed the basis of the resolution.
U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz, in a speech before the vote, called Gaza a “hell on earth” and held up a copy of the resolution, calling it a “lifeline.” After the resolution passed, he said, “Thank you for helping us forge a new path for Israelis, Palestinians, and all people in the region.” Security Council resolutions are legally binding under international law.
Palestinians sought an end to the suffering caused by war, Israel demanded the disarmament of Hamas, and the U.S. aimed to play a central role in leading Middle East peace. Richard Gowan, UN director at the International Crisis Group, told the NYT, “It’s a win-win situation. A diplomatic victory for Trump while acknowledging the UN’s continued relevance.”
While the resolution passed, uncertainties remain. Israeli airstrikes continue in Gaza, and violence persists in the West Bank and elsewhere. The NYT noted, “Challenges ahead include appointing Peace Committee members and determining under whose command the stabilization force will operate.” The stabilization force is expected to carry out missions such as protecting civilians and securing border areas.
With inputs International Media Reports
