In a significant diplomatic triumph, President Donald Trump secured a notable endorsement from the United Nations Security Council for his peace initiative in Gaza on Monday. This plan aims to establish an international peacekeeping force and outlines a potential path toward the creation of a future Palestinian state.
Gaining wide acceptance, the proposal received 13 affirmative votes, hailed by Washington as a ‘historic and constructive’ achievement. Notably, Russia and China chose to abstain from the vote, but no member exercised a veto.
Following the vote, President Trump took to his Truth Social platform to express his satisfaction, stating, “Congratulations to the World on the incredible Vote of the United Nations Security Council, just moments ago, acknowledging and endorsing the BOARD OF PEACE.” Trump emphasized that this board, which he will chair, will include some of the most powerful and respected global leaders.
Trump further remarked, “This will go down as one of the biggest approvals in the History of the United Nations, leading to further Peace all over the World and marking a moment of true Historic proportion.”
He also hinted at forthcoming developments, promising that “the members of the Board and many more exciting announcements will be made in the coming weeks.”
In support of this pivotal resolution, U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Mike Waltz, commented, “Today’s resolution represents another significant step that will enable Gaza to prosper and foster an environment that allows Israel to live in security.”
The text, which was revised several times as a result of high-stakes negotiations, ‘endorses’ the US president’s plan, which allowed for a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas to take hold on October 10 in the war-wracked Palestinian territory.
The United Nations approved President Donald Trump’s plan for peace in the Middle East
The Gaza Strip has been largely reduced to rubble after two years of fighting, sparked by Hamas’ s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. A woman is pictured searching through the rubble of her home in Gaza City for clothes on Friday
The Gaza Strip has been largely reduced to rubble after two years of fighting, sparked by Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
Under Trump’s peace plan, an International Stabilization Force (ISF) would be created that would work with Israel and Egypt as well as newly-trained Palestinian police to help secure border areas and demilitarize the Gaza Strip.
The ISF is mandated to work on the ‘permanent decommissioning of weapons from non-state armed groups,’ protecting civilians and securing humanitarian aid corridors.
Trump’s plan also authorizes the formation of a ‘Board of Peace,’ a transitional governing body for Gaza – which Trump would theoretically chair – with a mandate running until the end of 2027.
The resolution mentions a possible future Palestinian state.
Once the Palestinian Authority has carried out requested reforms and the rebuilding of Gaza is underway, ‘the conditions may finally be in place for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood,’ the draft says.
That eventuality has been firmly rejected by Israel.
President Donald Trump celebrated the news on his Truth Social page
Veto-wielding Russia circulated a competing draft, saying the US document does not go far enough towards backing the creation of a Palestinian state.
Moscow’s text, seen by AFP, asked the Council to express its ‘unwavering commitment to the vision of the two-state solution.’
It would not have authorized a Board of Peace or the deployment of an international force for the time being, instead asking UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to offer ‘options’ on those issues.
Waltz said ahead of the vote ‘delaying will cost lives.’
The US won the backing 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 Turkey.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
