UN Security Council endorses U.S. plan for Gaza; none oppose

The 15-member body on Monday night approved President Donald Trump’s postwar plan for the reconstruction of Gaza in a 13-0 vote, with both Russia and China abstaining. The decision came after an impassioned argument from U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz, who characterized Gaza as it existed Monday as a crucible of conflict and hell on earth.

Waltz acknowledged that tens of thousands of people had died in Gaza since Israel responded to the unprovoked attacks by the terror group Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023. He told the security council members that they stood at a crossroads. Voting for the draft resolution would douse the flames of violence and light the path to peace, he said, but he also warned that time was not on the world’s side, and failure to support the measure could cause the opportunity for peace to slip away.

What does the resolution accomplish? The resolution calls for an international stabilization force, or ISF, with an initial two-year lifespan. The ISF would work with both Israel and Egypt to secure Gaza’s borders, establish the influx of humanitarian aid, and protect civilians in Gaza. It would also oversee the disarmament of Hamas and the training of a new Palestinian police force. After the ISF establishes control, the Israeli military would fully withdraw from Gaza. A leadership body called the Board of Peace, led by U.S. President Donald Trump, would be created to oversee the future of Gaza and guide the region. The board’s goals for the region would be self-determination and the formation of a Palestinian state.

Dig deeper: Read Travis Kircher’s report on the ceasefire agreement that led Hamas to release its remaining living Israeli hostages and paved the way for this UN resolution.