UN Security Council Approves U.S.-Backed International Stabilization Force for Gaza

The United Nations Security Council has officially approved a U.S.-backed initiative to establish an international stabilization force in the Gaza Strip, a significant development reported on November 18, 2025. This force is primarily tasked with overseeing the disarmament of Hamas and other armed Palestinian groups, aiming to bring long-term security to the region.

Composed of soldiers from Arab and Muslim-majority nations, the new force is mandated to provide security and facilitate the demilitarization process. According to Arab News on November 18, 2025, the resolution authorizes the force to employ "all necessary measures" to fulfill its critical mandate in compliance with international law.

The resolution garnered substantial international support, passing with 13 votes in favor. However, China and Russia abstained from the vote, which took place on Monday, November 17, 2025, as confirmed by CBS News and PBS News.

Their abstentions stemmed from concerns regarding Palestinian participation in the plan and the precise role defined for the United Nations, the Palestine Chronicle reported on November 18, 2025. PBS News also noted that Russia had previously circulated its own rival resolution, highlighting differing international perspectives.

This U.S.-backed resolution is an integral component of President Donald Trump's broader 20-point peace plan for Gaza, which outlines a framework for a ceasefire and a potential pathway to Palestinian statehood. U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz lauded the resolution as "historic and constructive," according to Arab News.

Hamas, however, swiftly rejected the resolution, denouncing it as an "international trusteeship" and asserting that disarmament infringes upon their "right to resistance," Modern Diplomacy and the Palestine Chronicle reported on November 18, 2025. The group insisted that any international force's role should be confined to monitoring borders.

Conversely, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry welcomed the UN vote, urging its immediate implementation, Arab News stated on November 18, 2025. Yet, CBS News noted that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed anger over the resolution's language supporting Palestinian statehood.

• The International Stabilization Force (ISF) is a central element of President Donald Trump's comprehensive 20-point peace plan for Gaza, which was initially unveiled in September 2025. This broader plan also encompassed a ceasefire agreement and a deal for the release of hostages, which both Hamas and Israel accepted on October 8, 2025, according to wikipedia and the Security Council Report.

• The mandate for the newly approved ISF is extensive, covering several critical areas for post-conflict stabilization in Gaza. As detailed by UN News on November 17, 2025, its responsibilities include monitoring the ceasefire, securing border areas, protecting civilians, facilitating humanitarian aid delivery, training a new Palestinian police force, and overseeing the permanent disarmament of non-state armed groups.

• Disarming Hamas presents formidable challenges, as the group fundamentally views armed resistance as integral to its identity and political legitimacy, The Soufan Center reported on October 17, 2025. Experts suggest that successful disarmament processes typically require a clear pathway to political legitimacy or power-sharing for the armed group, a condition currently absent for Hamas under the proposed plan.

• The participation of Arab and Muslim-majority nations is considered crucial for the composition and legitimacy of the ISF, with several having previously indicated support for the U.S. proposal, CBS News noted on November 17, 2025. However, potential troop contributions could face diplomatic hurdles, such as Israel's reported opposition to Turkey's involvement, according to a November 18, 2025 report.

• China and Russia's abstentions underscore their reservations about the resolution's perceived lack of clarity on Palestinian self-determination and the limited role for the UN Security Council in the overall peace framework, the Palestine Chronicle reported on November 18, 2025. Both nations have consistently advocated for diplomatic solutions and expressed skepticism towards unilateral interventions in the Middle East, as highlighted by Arab News on July 10, 2025.

• The U.S. resolution includes provisions for a "credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood" contingent on reforms and redevelopment in Gaza, CBS News reported. This aspect has generated significant debate, particularly with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has publicly opposed the establishment of a Palestinian state, according to CBS News and Modern Diplomacy.

• Implementing the ISF faces substantial operational hurdles, including securing firm troop commitments from contributing nations and navigating Hamas's outright rejection of disarmament, a November 18, 2025 report indicated. The ultimate success of the stabilization force will depend heavily on complex ongoing negotiations and the willingness of all involved parties to cooperate and adhere to the agreed-upon terms.

• The concept of an international force in Gaza is not unprecedented, drawing on historical precedents from other United Nations-mandated transitional administrations. Wikipedia noted on November 18, 2025, that similar models have been implemented in regions such as Cambodia and Kosovo, providing a framework for international intervention in post-conflict zones.