Wednesday, November 5, 2025

US sends Gaza stabilization force resolution to UN Security Council members


US sends Gaza stabilization force resolution to UN Security Council members

The Trump administration has circulated a draft of a UN Security Council resolution that proposes the establishment of a temporary International Stabilization Force (ISF) in the Gaza Strip, according to a document obtained by The Jerusalem Post. The move signals a new phase of international involvement in Gaza.

According to the proposal, the ISF would operate under a unified command in close consultation and cooperation with Israel and Egypt. It would work alongside a newly trained and vetted Palestinian police force to help secure border areas and stabilize Gaza’s security environment.

The ISF’s mandate would include overseeing the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip – a key Israeli demand – through the destruction of terrorist and military infrastructure, preventing its reconstruction, and ensuring the permanent disarmament of non-state armed groups.

Additionally, the ISF would be tasked with protecting civilians, supporting humanitarian operations, providing training and assistance to the Palestinian police, and coordinating with relevant countries to secure humanitarian corridors.

The draft also allows for the ISF to undertake “additional tasks as may be necessary” to support a broader comprehensive plan for Gaza’s recovery.

The ISF is intended to operate until the end of 2027, with any renewal or modification of its mandate requiring consultation with Israel, Egypt, and the UN Security Council.

Washington intends to formally submit the resolution within days, with a vote possible as early as next week, a person familiar with the matter told the Post.

“The US wanted to move fast and see the force established before the end of the year,” the source said, adding that the administration views the ISF as a critical step in ensuring stability after months of conflict.

Israeli officials, who have held talks with their US counterparts over the proposal, reportedly view the draft as largely aligned with Israel’s positions.

Notably, the resolution does not invoke Chapter VII of the UN Charter, meaning the force would not have the same legal status as UNIFIL in Lebanon. Therefore, it would operate with a different mandate.

Israel did not want the precedent of allowing a UN “Blue Helmet force” to enter an area related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The ISF would have a clear mandate to enforce Gaza’s demilitarization, however, marking a departure from Arab states such as Egypt and Jordan, which had advocated for a “peacekeeping” rather than “peace-enforcing” mission.

While diplomatic negotiations continue, the US-backed proposal is the most significant international initiative so far that is aimed at stabilizing Gaza and shaping its postwar security landscape.

Some of the countries that are supposed to approve the draft resolution on the International Security Force (ISF) have expressed reservations about the US-drafted resolution, according to two Western diplomats.

"There are a lot of comments," one of the diplomats said to Post, adding, "There will be a significant battle over the language and the powers of this force." Among the reservations is the fact that the force is supposed to deal with disarmament - something that Arab countries are refusing to accept, and they define the force as a "peacekeeping force."

Another issue is the activity of the IDF alongside the presence of the ISF on the ground, and the question of whether the ISF should report to the Security Council at regular intervals.

Israeli officials hope that the framework will not be changed, but in light of the reservations, they express concern that the Americans will make concessions on some of the issues and agree to formulations and powers that Israel does not want.



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