The future of Gaza remains deeply uncertain after the UN Security Council adopted a US-drafted peace plan that was immediately met with rejection by Hamas and skepticism from Russia and China. The resolution, passed on Monday, endorses President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan to end the war, authorizing an international stabilization force (ISF) and a new transitional authority called the “Board of Peace.” However, the lack of unanimous support and the immediate defiance from Gaza’s militant rulers cast serious doubt on its implementation.
Hamas was quick to condemn the move, issuing a statement that rejected the plan as an “international guardianship mechanism.” The group, which the ISF is mandated to disarm, reiterated that it “will not disarm” and views its fight as “legitimate resistance.” This defiant posture sets up a potential conflict with the incoming international force, which is tasked with decommissioning all weapons and destroying military infrastructure in the enclave.
The diplomatic fragility of the plan was on full display at the UN. Russia and China, both permanent members with veto power, abstained from the vote. Their ambassadors criticized the resolution for failing to provide any clear role for the UnitedNations in Gaza’s future. Russian Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya was particularly pointed, warning that the council was effectively giving “complete control” to a US-led initiative whose operational details are entirely unknown.
The United States, for its part, framed the resolution as a historic breakthrough. Ambassador Mike Waltz told the council the plan “dismantles Hamas’ grip” and offers a “possible pathway for Palestinian self-determination” in a “prosperous and secure” Gaza. President Trump, who is set to chair the “Board of Peace,” celebrated the vote as a “moment of true Historic proportion,” promising more announcements soon.
Adding to the complex web of reactions, the Palestinian Authority welcomed the resolution, a move diplomats said was instrumental in preventing a Russian veto. However, the resolution’s reference to a “pathway to… statehood” has created a separate controversy in Israel, where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, under right-wing pressure, has publicly restated his opposition to such an outcome, highlighting the immense difficulty of balancing the plan’s competing interests.