The UN Security Council is set to vote on Monday on a US-drafted resolution strengthening Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan, particularly on the deployment of an international stabilisation force, as Washington cautioned that failure would result in renewed fighting.
The draft has been revised several times after objections raised by both Hamas and Israel. However, the fragile ceasefire remains in place despite violations. The Gaza Strip, home to 2.3 million Palestinians, many of whom were forced out of various parts by the Israeli army and pushed into a small enclave, has been levelled to the ground since the 2023 Israeli invasion.
The latest version of the text, according to sources, authorises the creation and deployment of an International Stabilisation Force (ISF) that would stay in the territory for at least two years. Hamas has ruled out both conditions, one that seeks the disarmament of the group and the other the deployment of the ISF.
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On Sunday, the Russian mission objected to the draft proposal, saying it lacked a clear vision and was not in favour of long-term peace, since the draft did not mention the creation of a Palestinian state. The United States has intensified its campaign to secure support for its resolution, condemning the "attempts to sow discord" among Council members.
"Any refusal to back this resolution is a vote either for the continued rule of Hamas terrorists or for the return to war with Israel, condemning the region and its people to perpetual conflict," the US ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, said.
Russia and China might oppose the draft and could also veto the proposal, owing to its lack of clarity. It will be interesting to see how Monday’s voting proceeds with discord among the member states.
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