New York, NY — November 17, 2025 — The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) adopted a resolution on Monday, officially endorsing the multi-phase peace plan for Gaza put forth by US President Donald Trump. The resolution, which passed with a vote of 13-0 and two abstentions from permanent members China and Russia, is seen as a crucial step toward establishing an International Stabilization Force (ISF) and a new governing structure in the enclave following two years of conflict.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Key Components of the Resolution
The adopted resolution, now designated UNSC 2803 (2025), codifies the core elements of the President’s 20-point “Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict,” which is included as an annex to the text.
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International Stabilization Force (ISF): The resolution authorizes member states to establish and deploy a temporary ISF. This force’s mandate is to secure the area, support the demilitarization of Gaza by dismantling “terrorist infrastructure” and decommissioning weapons from non-state armed groups like Hamas, and coordinate operations with Israel and Egypt.
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Board of Peace (BoP): The text welcomes the establishment of the BoP, which President Trump is expected to chair. This body is envisioned as a transitional administrative authority until December 2027, overseeing reconstruction efforts and coordinating with a newly formed Palestinian “technocratic committee” responsible for day-to-day civil governance.
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Pathway to Statehood: In a development that has proved controversial with some Israeli partners, the resolution includes language stating that “conditions may finally be in place for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood” once reforms are implemented by the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Gaza’s reconstruction has advanced.
US Ambassador to the UN, Mike Waltz, described the resolution as “charting a new course in the Middle East” that aims to ensure Gaza “rises free from terror’s shadow, prosperous and secure.”
Reactions and Concerns
The vote, a rare display of concerted action by the UNSC on the conflict, was met with mixed reactions from key players:
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Hamas Rejection: The Palestinian militant group Hamas rejected the resolution, reiterating in a statement that it would not disarm and calling the plan an “international guardianship mechanism” imposed against the will of the Palestinian people. The group warned that tasking the ISF with dismantling resistance groups would strip the force of its neutrality.
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Arab Support: Several Arab and Muslim-majority nations, including Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, publicly backed the resolution, viewing it as a vehicle for maintaining the fragile ceasefire and creating conditions for Palestinian statehood. Algerian Ambassador Amar Bendjama, speaking for the Arab bloc, stressed that genuine peace requires “justice for the Palestinian people.”
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Israeli Opposition on Statehood: While the resolution legitimizes the security and governance aspects favored by the US and Israel, the conditional reference to Palestinian statehood caused unease in Jerusalem. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu restated his firm opposition to an independent Palestinian state.
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Russia and China Abstain: Permanent members Russia and China abstained from the vote, allowing the resolution to pass but voicing concerns that the text granted too much control over Gaza’s future to the US-led Board of Peace and Stabilization Force, rather than the UN itself.
The initial phase of President Trump’s plan—which led to a ceasefire and a hostage-release deal last month—was the first step. The international community now faces the significant challenge of recruiting forces for the ISF and ensuring the transitional governing bodies can operate effectively amid ongoing political and security risks.
