U.S. Proposal for Gaza: 'Board of Peace' and International Force Aim for Demilitarization but Lack Key Details Ahead of UN Vote

Overview

The U.N. Security Council is set to vote on a U.S.-sponsored resolution that seeks to move Gaza from a fragile truce toward a two-year transitional administration and a path to reconstruction. Central to the draft is the creation of a temporary Board of Peace (BoP), backed by an international stabilization force and a Palestinian police trained in Egypt. The BoP would oversee Gaza’s redevelopment and the demilitarization of Hamas and other armed groups, reflecting elements of the 20-point plan advanced by President Donald Trump.

Key Provisions

Board of Peace (BoP)

The draft resolution would establish the BoP as a transitional administration with international legal personality to coordinate reconstruction under a so-called "Comprehensive Plan" derived from the 20-point blueprint. Who would sit on the BoP, how members would be selected, and the board’s precise powers remain unspecified. Names floated in earlier discussions included international figures — controversially, former British prime minister Tony Blair — but no appointments are confirmed.

International Stabilization Force (ISF) and Palestinian Police

The resolution calls for a temporary International Stabilization Force (ISF) to deploy under unified command in coordination with Israel and Egypt, while a Palestinian police force would be trained in Egypt. The ISF’s stated role is to establish control and ensure the demilitarization of Gaza by dismantling military infrastructure and decommissioning weapons held by non-state actors.

Sequencing and Operational Gaps

Diplomats caution the draft is thin on sequencing, command arrangements, and operational detail. Critical questions include:

• Who would command the ISF and how would it coordinate with Israeli forces and Egyptian security?
• How would disarmament be enforced, and what steps would secure civilians and rival factions during the process?
• What benchmarks must be met for the Israeli withdrawal and eventual transfer of authority to the Palestinian Authority (PA)?

Disarming Hamas presents acute political and technical challenges: some Hamas leaders have rejected surrendering their military wing, and fighters may retain light arms for protection against rival groups. The draft links Israeli withdrawal to "standards, milestones, and timeframes linked to demilitarization," but does not specify those benchmarks.

Political Reactions and International Stakes

Israel insists Hamas must be disarmed and, according to Israeli officials, the BoP would not include PA representatives. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized that "Israel and the US are the ones who decide if it will meet the conditions, and there's an entire wall of conditions."

"Gaza will be demilitarized, and Hamas will be disarmed — either the easy way or the hard way." — Benjamin Netanyahu

Several countries, including Indonesia, Turkey, and Egypt, have been mentioned as potential ISF contributors, but none has publicly committed forces. Israel would likely reject a Turkish role, and the United States has indicated it would not provide ground troops. U.S. officials are reportedly exploring alternatives that could de-emphasize demilitarization in favor of reconstruction — a shift that would alarm Israel.

Transition to Palestinian Authority and Wider Political Horizon

The draft envisions the BoP eventually handing authority to the PA after the PA completes an unspecified reform program. The resolution references a joint French-Saudi effort that would include PA commitments to hold democratic, transparent general and presidential elections within a year of the ceasefire. France has also offered to assist the PA with drafting a constitution as part of a longer-term two-state vision.

Despite these proposals, Israel has publicly rejected the creation of a Palestinian state on territory west of the Jordan River. By contrast, Saudi officials have affirmed that Palestinian statehood is a prerequisite for regional integration, underscoring deep regional divisions.

Diplomatic Hurdles and the UN Vote

The draft is already drawing opposition from within Israel’s government and could face a veto from permanent U.N. Security Council members such as Russia or China. Moscow has circulated an alternative plan. A veto from a permanent member would effectively halt the U.S. proposal. Even if the resolution passes, diplomats worry the operational gaps and contested political commitments will make effective implementation difficult.

What to Watch

• How the Security Council vote unfolds and whether any permanent member exercises a veto.
• Which countries — if any — commit troops to an ISF and how the force would be commanded.
• Concrete benchmarks for demilitarization, reconstruction financing, and the timeline for transferring authority to the PA.

The U.N. vote will test whether the U.S. plan can marshal sufficient international support and turn a broad political concept into a practicable, sequenced strategy for Gaza’s stabilization and recovery.