The UN Security Council voted early Tuesday in favor of a U.S. resolution supporting Donald Trump’s peace plan for Gaza, which includes deploying an international force and paving a path toward a Palestinian state.
Thirteen council members voted in favor of the text, which U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz described as “historic and constructive.” Russia and China abstained but did not use their veto powers.
The United States had formally launched negotiations within the 15-member Security Council last week on a text that follows the ceasefire in the two-year war between Israel and Hamas and endorses Trump’s plan.
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Key Points of the Resolution
The resolution welcomes the creation of the Peace Council as “a transitional administrative body with international legal personality responsible for establishing the framework and coordinating funding for Gaza’s redevelopment in accordance with the comprehensive plan, pending the satisfactory completion of the Palestinian Authority’s reform program and its ability to regain control over Gaza safely and effectively.”
The resolution states that after the Palestinian Authority’s reform program is implemented, “conditions may finally exist for a credible path enabling Palestinians to exercise self-determination and establish a Palestinian state.”
It further states that the United States will work to establish dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians to agree on political perspectives that allow peaceful coexistence and prosperity.
The resolution authorizes member states cooperating with the Peace Council — and the Peace Council itself — “to establish a temporary international stabilization force in Gaza, deployed under unified leadership acceptable to the Peace Council, and composed of troops contributed by participating states.”
The authorization for the Peace Council and the international civilian and security presence will remain valid until 31 December 2027, subject to further action by the Security Council. Any renewal of the force’s mandate must be done in full coordination with Egypt, Israel, and other states cooperating with the international force.
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United States
Following the vote, Ambassador Mike Waltz hailed the resolution as “historic and constructive,” calling it an important step toward “a stable and prosperous Gaza.”
He said the resolution provides contributing countries with the framework needed to proceed with forming the International Stabilization Force, and offers international financial institutions the mechanisms required to direct investments toward Gaza’s reconstruction and development.
Waltz added that security is “the oxygen governance and development need to live and thrive,” noting that the force will support disarmament in Gaza and “ensure the safety of Palestinian civilians.”
He asserted that future investment stemming from the resolution will revitalize Gaza’s economy and offer Palestinians opportunity “instead of burdening them with perpetual aid dependency.”
He described Trump’s 20-point plan as the start of “a strong, stable, and prosperous region united in rejecting the path of violence, hatred, and terrorism,” adding that “this resolution is only the beginning.”
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Algeria
Algeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Amar Benjameh, said his country supported the resolution because it aims to end the fighting and create the conditions necessary for the Palestinian people to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination and establish a state.
He stressed that genuine peace in the Middle East cannot be achieved without justice for the Palestinian people, who have awaited their independent state for decades.
Benjameh noted that the resolution and its annex — Trump’s 20-point plan — form part of the broader UN framework for addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, emphasizing that the annex must be regarded as an integral part of the resolution.
He expressed hope that implementing the peace plan would open a real horizon for Palestinians to achieve statehood and put an end to their suffering, adding that what is now required is a “collective, sincere, and decisive will from the international community.”
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United Kingdom
UK Representative James Kariuki said the resolution — which the UK supported — marks an important starting point for implementing the peace plan for Palestinians, Israelis, and the region, and for turning the page on two devastating years of war in Gaza.
He thanked the U.S. President for his leadership and the United States for introducing the resolution.
Kariuki emphasized the importance of swiftly deploying the stabilization force “to support the ceasefire and prevent a vacuum that Hamas could exploit.” He also called for enhanced efforts to support UN humanitarian operations by opening all crossings and ensuring that humanitarian agencies and NGOs can operate without hindrance.
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Pakistan
Pakistan’s Ambassador Aamir Iftikhar Ahmad said his country supported the resolution to end the bloodshed, ensure large-scale humanitarian relief, and secure the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
He stressed that today’s resolution “does not alter or diminish” previous UN Security Council decisions on Palestine, affirming that the right to self-determination applies equally to the Palestinian people — an “inalienable and unconditional right.”
He described the Peace Council as a “transitional oversight mechanism with a temporary mandate,” noting that peace “cannot be achieved by bypassing the Palestinians.”
Ahmad emphasized the need to prevent annexation or forced displacement in Gaza or the West Bank under any circumstances, saying that to break the cycle of violence, “it is essential to end the occupation and create a political horizon for Palestinian statehood through a credible, time-bound political process.”
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France
French Ambassador Jérôme Bonnafont said France voted for the resolution “to meet the most urgent needs of civilians and support ongoing peace efforts.”
He stated that France intends through its vote to support political momentum aimed at ending the war in Gaza permanently, ensuring humanitarian aid meets needs, restoring security, and creating conditions for a credible political horizon in Israel and Palestine.
He said implementation must be guided by a clear political and legal framework, grounded in relevant UN resolutions, internationally agreed parameters, and the New York Declaration.
France, he added, is taking responsibility toward civilians whose lives have been devastated and who deserve protection and a return to stability.
He urged all parties to meet their obligations under international law and called on the Council to remain ready to reconvene as developments unfold, particularly regarding the deployment of the temporary stabilization force.
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Russia
After abstaining, Russian Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya said his country could not support the resolution because it did not reaffirm the two-state solution. He argued this is not a theoretical issue but a practical one, especially given recent “unequivocal public statements” by top Israeli leaders rejecting a Palestinian state.
He warned that the resolution appears to grant the Peace Council and stabilization force full autonomy “without any regard for the position or opinion” of the Palestinian Authority, potentially cementing the separation of Gaza from the West Bank.
Nebenzya said this “echoes the colonial practices of the British Mandate in the League of Nations era,” when Palestinian voices were disregarded.
He questioned the mandate of the force, saying its potential role in disarmament could turn it “into a party to the conflict beyond the scope of peacekeeping.”
He noted that Russia had drafted an alternative resolution but, after hearing the positions of Ramallah and many Arab and Islamic countries supporting the U.S. text, decided not to table it and instead abstained.
He concluded that adopting the resolution marked “a sad day for the Security Council,” expressing hope that Russia’s concerns would prove unfounded, but emphasizing that responsibility for implementing the plan now lies entirely with its authors and supporters.
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China
China’s Ambassador Fu Cong said the resolution outlines post-war governance arrangements for Gaza, “but Palestine seems almost entirely absent, and Palestinian sovereignty and ownership are not fully reflected.”
He said it was particularly concerning that the resolution did not explicitly reaffirm commitment to the two-state solution as an international consensus.
Fu emphasized that any post-war arrangements must reflect the will of the Palestinian people and create space for the vital role of the Palestinian Authority.
He added that the UN has extensive experience in post-conflict recovery and reconstruction and should play a central role in managing Gaza — something the resolution does not provide.
He expressed disappointment that many Chinese suggestions and questions were not incorporated into the final text. Despite China’s concerns, he said the country abstained in light of the fragile and dangerous situation in Gaza, though its reservations remain.
