The UN Security Council is expecting to vote on a draft resolution that supports Donald Trump's peace plan for Gaza. The proposed text, submitted by the U.S., aims to give permission for the deployment of an International Stabilization Force (ISF) and the establishment of a transitional governance structure in the region.
The U.S. claims multiple countries are willing to contribute to the ISF, though its responsibilities regarding Hamas's disarmament remain ambiguous. This plan is a crucial element of Trump's 20-point strategy, which recently facilitated a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas after two years of conflict.
The draft resolution also hints at the potential for a Palestinian state—a contentious point that Israel strongly opposes. Negotiations around the resolution have been fraught with tension, with Washington signaling that a rejection of the proposal might reignite hostilities with Israel.
The resolution not only authorizes the ISF but also proposes to create a newly trained Palestinian police force in Gaza to operate independently of Hamas, which has historically controlled the police in that area.
Reports suggest that part of the ISF's mission would involve overseeing the disarmament of non-state armed groups, including Hamas, to ensure protection for civilians and aid routes. This condition, requiring Hamas to relinquish its weapons, forms a part of the broader peace framework presented by Trump.
However, Hamas has labeled the draft resolution as dangerous, stating that it seeks to impose international control over Gaza. The faction categorically rejects any clauses pertaining to the disarmament of Palestinian forces or notions that infringe upon the Palestinian people's right to resist foreign occupation.
Additionally, the draft supports the creation of a Board of Peace, likely to be led by President Trump, charged with governing Gaza through a body of Palestinian technocrats and steering its reconstruction efforts.
In response to pressure from influential Arab nations, the resolution alludes to the possibility of a future Palestinian state, although it stops short of categorically designating this as the end goal. This reference triggered a backlash from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who reiterated his government's longstanding opposition to a Palestinian state in any form.
Trump's peace initiative has effectively paused the conflict, which escalated following a major attack by Hamas on Israel in October 2023. Since the onset of the conflict, over 69,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed due to Israeli military actions in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
