A new US-led peace plan for Gaza, narrowly adopted by the UN Security Council on Monday, is already facing severe opposition from both sides of the conflict. Hamas, the militant group ruling Gaza, has rejected the plan’s core security mandate of demilitarization. Simultaneously, the Israeli government has publicly opposed the plan’s stated political “pathway” of Palestinian statehood. This dual rejection from the primary actors on the ground leaves the plan in a precarious position.
The resolution, which passed after Russia and China abstained, endorses President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan. Its security pillar is an “international stabilization force” (ISF) mandated to disarm Hamas. Hamas’s response was swift: a statement calling the plan “international guardianship” and vowing it “will not disarm.” This defiance sets the stage for a potential clash with the incoming international force.
On the other side, the resolution’s political pillar has drawn fire from Israel. The text references a “credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood” as a long-term possibility. This prompted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, under pressure from his right-wing coalition, to publicly reiterate his government’s opposition to a Palestinian state, directly contradicting the US-drafted text.
The US, however, remains optimistic. Ambassador Mike Waltz praised the resolution as a way to “dismantle Hamas’ grip” and create a “prosperous and secure” Gaza. President Trump, who will chair the new “Board of Peace” for reconstruction, called the vote “historic.”
This US-led initiative lacks broad international consensus. Russia and China abstained, complaining that the UN was being sidelined. Russian Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya warned that the council was blessing a US plan with unknown “modalities.” The plan’s only key supporter in the region is the Palestinian Authority, which welcomed the “statehood” language, highlighting the deep and conflicting interests pulling the new framework apart.