A future clash in Gaza appears increasingly likely as Hamas, the militant group controlling the enclave, has unequivocally rejected a newly-passed UN Security Council resolution. The resolution, drafted by the US, authorizes an “international stabilization force” (ISF) with a direct mandate to demilitarize Gaza. In a statement issued just after the Monday vote, Hamas declared it “will not disarm” and labeled the entire plan an “international guardianship mechanism” that its people and factions reject, setting the stage for a potential confrontation.
The resolution provides a UN blessing for President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan, which aims to definitively end the two-year war. It follows a preliminary ceasefire and hostage-release deal agreed to last month by Israel and Hamas. This new text is seen as vital for legitimizing a transitional governance body, to be called the “Board of Peace,” and for convincing countries to contribute the troops necessary for the ISF. This force is empowered to decommission weapons and destroy all military infrastructure in Gaza.
The US government hailed the resolution’s adoption as a breakthrough. Ambassador Mike Waltz told the council the plan “dismantles Hamas’ grip” and allows Gaza to become “prosperous and secure.” He framed it as a “possible pathway for Palestinian self-determination” and a chance to agree on a new “political horizon.” President Trump himself took to social media to call the vote “a moment of true Historic proportion,” suggesting the new Trump-chaired Board of Peace would be formed soon.
However, the international consensus is far from solid. Veto-wielding members Russia and China both abstained, lodging serious complaints about the resolution’s text. They argued that the plan sidelines the United Nations and fails to give it a clear role in Gaza’s future. Russian Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya was blunt, stating the council was giving “complete control” to a US initiative whose operational details “we know nothing about so far.”
While Hamas rejects the plan for its demilitarization clause, the plan is also causing friction for US ally Israel. The resolution’s text controversially references a “credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood” as a future possibility. This prompted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, under pressure from his right-wing allies, to reiterate his opposition to a Palestinian state, even as the Palestinian Authority, Hamas’s rival, welcomed the resolution—a move diplomats say was key to preventing a Russian veto.