The UN Security Council on Monday authorized the creation of an international stabilization force (ISF) with the express mandate to demilitarize the Gaza Strip. This provision is the security backbone of a new US-drafted resolution, which passed despite Russian and Chinese abstentions, endorsing President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan to end the two-year war. The resolution empowers this new force to “decommission weapons” and “destroy military infrastructure,” a direct challenge to the armed groups currently operating in the enclave.
This demilitarization effort is intended to pave the way for the plan’s other key component: a “Board of Peace,” chaired by Trump, which will act as a transitional authority overseeing Gaza’s reconstruction and economic recovery. US Ambassador Mike Waltz told the council that this two-pronged approach “dismantles Hamas’ grip” and ensures Gaza can rise “free from terror’s shadow.” The resolution’s passage is seen as crucial for recruiting countries to contribute troops to the ISF.
The mandate for demilitarization was immediately and forcefully rejected by Hamas. The militant group, which controls Gaza, released a statement calling the resolution an “international guardianship mechanism” that is rejected by the Palestinian people. The statement reiterated that Hamas “will not disarm” and considers its fight against Israel “legitimate resistance,” setting up a direct and potentially violent confrontation with the incoming ISF.
The resolution’s passage also highlighted significant rifts among global powers. Russia and China abstained, arguing the plan sidelines the UN. Russian Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya complained that the resolution hands “complete control” to the US-led board and force, “the modalities of which we know nothing about.” This lack of consensus from two permanent members casts a shadow on the international legitimacy of the operation.
While the Palestinian Authority welcomed the resolution—a key factor in avoiding a Russian veto—the plan has also created friction for Israel. The resolution’s text includes a clause referencing a “credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood.” This has prompted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, under pressure from his right-wing coalition, to publicly state his opposition to a Palestinian state, even as his government supports the goal of demilitarizing Gaza.
30