UN Security Council to vote on Trump peace plan for Gaza

The UN Security Council is expected to vote on a draft resolution supporting Donald Trump’s peace plan for Gaza.

The text presented by the United States stipulates a mandate to deploy an international force to stabilize and establish transitional rule there.

The United States says several unnamed countries have offered to contribute to Iraqi security forces, although it is unclear whether they will be required to ensure the disarmament of Hamas or act as a peacekeeping force.

Its formation is a key element of Trump’s 20-point plan that last month reached a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in their two-year-old war.

The draft resolution also raises the possibility of establishing a Palestinian state, which Israel strongly opposes.

Intensive negotiations took place on the draft text of the resolution, with Washington warning that any vote against it could lead to a return to fighting with Israel.

In addition to authorizing the establishment of an Israeli security force that it says will work with Israel and Egypt – Gaza’s southern neighbor – the draft resolution also calls for the establishment of a newly trained Palestinian police force in Gaza. Until now, the police there operate under the authority of Hamas.

According to reports on the latest draft, part of the ISF’s role would be to work on the “permanent disarmament of non-state armed groups” – including Hamas – as well as the protection of civilians and humanitarian aid routes.

This would require Hamas to surrender its weapons, something it is supposed to do under the Trump peace plan.

But Hamas described in a statement published last night the draft resolution as “dangerous” and “an attempt to subject the Gaza Strip to international authority.”

She added that the Palestinian factions reject any clause related to disarming Gaza or harming “the right of the Palestinian people to resistance.”

The statement also rejected any foreign military presence inside the Gaza Strip, considering that this constitutes a violation of Palestinian sovereignty.

The draft goes on to endorse the formation of a peace council, which President Trump is expected to chair, to oversee a body of Palestinian technocrats who would temporarily run Gaza and take charge of its redevelopment.

After pressure from major Arab countries, the final text refers to a possible future Palestinian state, although does not call for statehood as a goal.

However, the inclusion of such a reference sparked a sharp reaction from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after his allies in his ruling coalition criticized the draft, including threatening to leave the government if Netanyahu did not oppose it.

He said on Sunday: “With regard to the Palestinian state, we oppose the establishment of a Palestinian state in any area west of the Jordan River.” [River]This opposition exists and is correct and has not changed one bit.”

Trump’s peace plan effectively stopped the fighting between Israel and Hamas that had raged since Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on October 7, 2023. About 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage in that attack.

More than 69,483 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli military operations in Gaza since then, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry.