UN Approves US Gaza Plan; Hamas Immediately Rejects It
The United Nations Security Council has approved a US-drafted resolution outlining a post-war framework for Gaza, but Hamas has rejected the plan, calling it an imposition on Palestinian rights.
Key Developments
- UN Security Council approves US-drafted Gaza resolution with 13 votes
- Russia and China abstain, allowing passage without veto
- Hamas rejects resolution shortly after vote
- Plan includes international stabilization force and pathway to Palestinian state
Resolution Details
The resolution authorizes deployment of an international stabilization force to Gaza with a broad mandate until the end of 2027. The force will oversee Gaza’s borders, coordinate humanitarian access, and lead demilitarization efforts, including decommissioning weapons held by non-state armed groups.
The troops are authorized to use “all necessary measures” to carry out their duties and will work with Palestinian police, Egypt, and Israel to secure border areas.
Hamas Opposition
Hamas rejected the resolution immediately after the vote, arguing it “fails to meet Palestinian rights” and imposes an unwanted international trusteeship over Gaza. The group stated that assigning disarmament duties to the international force “strips it of neutrality” and positions it as “a party to the conflict in favour of the occupation.”
Political Framework
At the heart of the resolution is a 20-point ceasefire plan that establishes a transitional Board of Peace, to be headed by the US President, and outlines a conditional pathway toward an eventual Palestinian state. Israeli forces would withdraw from Gaza in stages based on agreed-upon benchmarks and demilitarization milestones.
The plan commits the US to launch dialogue between Israel and Palestinians to outline a political future for “peaceful and prosperous coexistence.”
The Security Council action comes as international actors work to maintain a fragile ceasefire following Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel that killed approximately 1,200 people, and Israel’s subsequent offensive that Gaza health officials say has left over 69,000 Palestinians dead.
