The UN Security Council on Monday adopted a US-submitted draft resolution supporting US President Donald Trump's plan to end the war in the Gaza Strip and allow international stabilization forces into the Palestinian enclave, Reuters reported.
Israel and the Palestinian armed group „Hamas“ last month reached an agreement on the first phase of Trump's Gaza plan, which led to a ceasefire after two years of war and the release of hostages.
The UN resolution, however, is seen as crucial to legitimizing the transitional governing body and providing guarantees to countries considering sending troops to Gaza.
The text of the resolution states that member states can participate in a "Peace Board", designed as a transitional body that will oversee the reconstruction and economic recovery of the enclave.
The document also allows for the deployment of an international stabilization force that will ensure the demilitarization process of Gaza, including the destruction of weapons and military infrastructure.
Trump's 20-point plan is included as an annex to the resolution.
Russia, which has veto power in the UN Security Council, had previously signaled it might oppose the document, but abstained in the vote, allowing the resolution to pass.
The Palestinian Authority in a statement on Friday supported the adoption of the US draft resolution.
The document, however, has proven controversial for Israel because it mentions the future possibility of a Palestinian state.
The text of the resolution states that “the conditions may finally be in place for a dignified path to Palestinian self-determination and statehood“, once the Palestinian Authority implements a reform agenda and the reconstruction of Gaza advances“.
“The United States will establish a dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians to agree on a political horizon for peace and prosperous coexistence“, the text notes.
Thirteen members of the Security Council voted in favor of the text, which US Permanent Representative to the UN Mike Walz described as "historic and constructive". Russia and China abstained.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, under pressure from right-wing members of his government, said on Sunday that Israel continues to oppose the creation of a Palestinian state and insists on the demilitarization of Gaza "by the easy way or the hard way".
“Hamas“ has refused to disarm. Late Sunday night, the Hamas-led groups issued a joint statement opposing the resolution, calling it a dangerous step toward imposing foreign guardianship over the territory and saying the resolution served Israeli interests.
US President Donald Trump welcomed the resolution, which he said would bring "more peace to the world", Agence France-Presse reported.
“This will go down as one of the most important decisions in the history of the United Nations“, the US president wrote on his social media account “Truth Social“, thanking the Security Council members, including Russia and China, who abstained.
“Hamas“ rejected the resolution, saying it did not respect the rights and demands of the Palestinians and sought to impose international guardianship on the enclave, which Palestinians and resistance factions oppose, Reuters reported.
“The resolution imposes an international guardianship mechanism on the Gaza Strip, which our people, our forces and factions reject. It imposes a mechanism to achieve Israel's goals“, added a “Hamas“ statement.
“Assigning international forces tasks and roles inside the Gaza Strip, including disarming the resistance, deprives them of neutrality and turns them into a party to the conflict in favor of the occupation“, the group added, reiterating that it would not disarm.