The United States has introduced a draft United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution proposing a multinational stabilization force in the Gaza Strip, but the initiative is running into resistance from key global powers and several Arab nations. The draft, circulated recently, would authorise the deployment of an international mission through 2027, working alongside a newly-proposed transitional governance body known as the “Board of Peace”.
At the core of the friction are objections from permanent Security Council members Russia and China, which are demanding the removal of the Board of Peace and greater clarity on the mission’s parameters, particularly the post-conflict role of the Palestinian Authority . They argue the draft lacks a transparent mechanism for Palestinian self-determination and appears to minimise the PA’s involvement.
Although the U.S. has amended the draft to strengthen wording around Palestinian statehood and outline a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces tied to demilitarisation benchmarks, Arab states such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) remain unconvinced. The UAE has declined troop participation until the governance-framework becomes clearer.
Analysts say the U.S. is under pressure to act quickly: one diplomat noted that failure to secure a UN mandate could prompt Washington to form a “coalition of the willing” outside formal UN channels. For the resolution to pass, it will require at least nine votes in favour and no veto from any of the five permanent members.
The draft also lays out operational tasks for the proposed stabilisation force: securing the territory, training a new Palestinian police force, aiding reconstruction, and ultimately overseeing a demilitarised Gaza. Despite these provisions, the structure remains vague—raising concerns over funding, command-and-control arrangements, and how the Board of Peace will be constituted.
With deep divisions over key elements of the plan, including governance, timeline, and force composition, the future of the resolution remains uncertain. As one diplomat warned, “the wider gaps between members of the UN’s most powerful body and the U.S. have emerged after more than two years of war.”
