The UN Resolution on establishing an international stabilization force in Gaza received 13 votes in favor, and none against, with permanent members China and Russia abstaining.

A historic step

The UN Security Council resolution authorizes the establishment of an International Stabilization Force (ISF) to coordinate with Egypt, Israel, and the newly trained Palestinian police to secure the border areas and demilitarized zones of the Gaza Strip. The ISF will be responsible for the permanent disarmament of non-state armed groups, protecting civilians, and ensuring the security of humanitarian aid corridors.

The resolution also proposes the establishment of a Board of Peace (BoP) as a transitional administration in Gaza that will coordinate reconstruction efforts. It authorizes the BoP to establish a temporary International Stabilization Force (ISF) in Gaza “to deploy under unified command acceptable to the BoP”.  US President Donald Trump will serve as the head of the Board of Peace to oversee the peace plan until the end of 2027.

The Resolution refers to future Palestinian statehood, saying that, once the Palestinian Authority implements required reforms and Gaza’s reconstruction is proceeding smoothly, “final conditions may be put forward to pave the way for Palestinians to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination and statehood”. 

US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz said that the UNSC temporarily setting aside disagreements to adopt the Resolution is a historic event that opens a new path for the Middle East and marks another important step toward a stable and prosperous Gaza, creating necessary space for a future Palestinian State and allowing Israel to live in peace and security.

“Per the carefully negotiated language in the 20-point plan, this resolution charts a possible pathway for Palestinian self-determination after the Palestinian Authority has completed the necessary reforms, where rockets will give way to olive branches, and there is a chance to agree on a political horizon,” said Waltz.

The international community has responded positively to the UN Resolution, which would turn the fragile Gaza ceasefire agreement into a credible political roadmap toward long-term stability. The Office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed belief that the peace plan will promote cooperation and expand the signing of the Abraham Accords between Israel and regional countries. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority called it “the first step on the path toward peace.”

In the meantime, the Resolution is expected to positively impact humanitarian activities in Gaza, where food and medical shortages are worsening and flooding remains a threat.

UNICEF spokesperson Ricardo Pires said: “We're very optimistic that the peace plan will improve the situation and we need to see more humanitarian corridors open, we need to see more quantity of aid getting in, more trucks, more corridors, again more access.”

Challenges to implementation

The Resolution faces numerous serious challenges. Palestinian Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian Shahin says the three most important issues for the Palestinian Authority are ensuring Gaza’s governance in line with international law, guaranteeing that the transition in Gaza is not separated from the New York Declaration issued last September on the establishment of an independent Palestinian State, and safeguarding the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said the EU has always insisted that the Palestinian Authority should govern Gaza and a clear roadmap is needed for the establishment of a future Palestinian State.

Meanwhile, some other countries are more concerned about the two major governance mechanisms for Gaza proposed in the Resolution – the International Stabilization Force and the Board of Peace.

Russian Ambassador to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, said the Resolution assigns the ISF peacekeeping tasks that could turn it into a party to the conflict and take it beyond the scope of peacekeeping. He said the Security Council members were given insufficient time to work conscientiously and seek compromises.

Chinese Ambassador to the UN Fu Cong said the Resolution "lacks clarity on key issues": “The Resolution needs to clearly define the structure, mandate, and participation criteria of the International Stabilization Force. Such information is the necessary basis for serious Council discussion, but the Resolution is vague on a number of crucial matters.”

US President Donald Trump, appointed to head the Board of Peace until 2027, said Monday that the Board will have many members, including leaders of major world powers.

When he announced his Gaza Peace Plan in September, Trump nominated former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair for the Chairmanship, sparking considerable controversy. Another major challenge to implementing the Resolution is the reaction of Hamas. Hamas immediately rejected the Resolution, saying it does not satisfy the rights and demands of the Palestinian people and is overly biased toward Israel. Hamas has shown no indication that it’s willing to voluntarily disarm, one of the key provisions of the Resolution.