The UN Security Council will vote on Monday on a US-drafted resolution bolstering Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan, especially the deployment of an international force, as Washington warns that failure to act could lead to new fighting.
The draft, which has been revised several times as a result of high-stakes negotiations, “endorses” the plan, which allowed a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas to take effect on October 10 in the war-torn Palestinian territory.
The Gaza Strip has been largely reduced to rubble after two years of fighting, sparked by Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
The latest version of the text, seen by AFPauthorizes the creation of an International Stabilization Force (ISF) that would work with Israel and Egypt and the newly trained Palestinian police to help secure border areas and demilitarize the Gaza Strip.
The ISF would also work on the “permanent dismantling of weapons of non-state armed groups,” protecting civilians and securing humanitarian aid corridors.
In addition, it would authorize the formation of a “Peace Board”, a transitional governing body for Gaza – which Trump would theoretically preside over – with a mandate until the end of 2027.
Unlike previous drafts, the latest version mentions a possible future Palestinian state.
Once the Palestinian Authority has carried out the requested reforms and the reconstruction of Gaza is underway, “the conditions for a credible path towards self-determination and the creation of a Palestinian state may finally be in place,” the draft says.
Israel has firmly rejected that possibility.
“Our opposition to a Palestinian state on any territory has not changed,” Netanyahu said at a cabinet meeting on Sunday.
The UN Security Council vote is scheduled for 22:00 GMT (3:00 am Tuesday Pakistan time).
Russian objections
Russia, which has veto power, has circulated a rival draft, saying the US document does not go far enough to support the creation of a Palestinian state.
The Moscow text, seen by AFPcalls on the Council to express its “unwavering commitment to the vision of the two-state solution”.
It does not authorize a Peace Board or the deployment of an international force for the moment, but instead asks the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, to offer “options” on these issues.
The United States has intensified its campaign to gain support for its resolution, attacking “attempts to sow discord” among Council members.
“Any refusal to support this resolution is a vote for continuing the reign of Hamas terrorists or for a return to war with Israel, condemning the region and its people to perpetual conflict,” wrote US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz in Washington Post.
The United States has made it known that it has the support of several Arab and Muslim-majority nations, publishing a joint statement of support for the text signed by Qatar, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Jordan and Türkiye.
Several diplomats said AFP that despite Russian criticism and hesitations from other member states, they hope the US draft will be adopted.
“The Russians know that while many Council members will accept the US plans, they share concerns about the substance of the US text and the way Washington has tried to rush it through New York,” said Richard Gowan of the International Crisis Group. AFP.
However, he said he doubts Moscow will use its veto on a resolution backed by Arab nations.
“I think it’s more likely that China and Russia will abstain, register their skepticism about the plan and then sit back and watch the United States struggle to implement it,” Gowan said.
