UN Security Council approves US plan for Gaza stabilisation force
The UN Security Council on Monday approved a US-drafted resolution establishing a transitional Board of Peace (BoP) and authorizing an International Stabilization Force (ISF) to oversee security, reconstruction and interim governance in the Gaza Strip. The resolution passed with 13 votes in favour, while China and Russia abstained.
Before the vote, US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz said the proposal offered a “bold and pragmatic blueprint” rooted in President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan for ending the Gaza conflict, developed with Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Türkiye, Pakistan and Indonesia. He said the approach could open “a possible pathway for Palestinian self-determination” once reforms within the Palestinian Authority are completed.
Following the vote, Waltz welcomed the Council’s endorsement, calling it “another significant step towards a stable Gaza.” He said the Board of Peace, to be chaired by President Trump, would guide political, humanitarian and reconstruction efforts, while the ISF would help stabilise the security environment by supporting demilitarisation, dismantling militant infrastructure, decommissioning weapons and ensuring the safety of civilians.
According to the resolution, the mandates of both the BoP and ISF will run until December 31, 2027, with any extension requiring further Council action and coordination with Egypt, Israel and participating member states.
Russia’s UN envoy Vassily Nebenzia criticised the measure, saying key legal concerns and amendments proposed in Moscow’s counter-draft were overlooked.
China’s envoy Fu Cong expressed similar reservations, calling the text vague and warning that it failed to adequately reflect Palestinian sovereignty, adding that “Palestine is barely visible in it.”
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