UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. Security Council is set to vote Monday on a U.S. resolution that would back an international stabilization force in Gaza and point toward a possible long-term pathway to Palestinian statehood. The outcome may hinge on whether Russia exercises its veto power after circulating a rival draft late last week.
Competing drafts and the stakes
After nearly two weeks of negotiations, Moscow proposed an alternative resolution that removes language about a transitional authority envisioned to be led by President Donald Trump and instead asks the U.N. secretary-general to present options for an international security force in Gaza. The competing texts reflect wider disagreements over how Gaza should be secured and who should guide its political future.
Several council diplomats said they hope Russia and China might abstain, noting ties between those countries and several Muslim-majority states that have urged quick adoption of the U.S. text. But diplomats speaking on condition of anonymity said Moscow's final position remained unclear. Russia is one of five permanent Security Council members with veto power, alongside China, France, Britain and the United States.
What the U.S. proposal would do
The U.S. resolution endorses President Trump’s 20-point ceasefire plan. It envisions a yet-to-be-established "Board of Peace" to serve as a transitional authority — a body the plan indicates would be headed by Trump — and authorizes a stabilization force with a broad mandate through the end of 2027.
The stabilization force would be empowered to oversee borders, provide security, support demilitarization efforts and coordinate the protection and flow of humanitarian assistance. The text instructs the force to coordinate closely with neighboring Egypt and with Israel, and to work alongside a Palestinian police force that would be trained and vetted.
Critically, the resolution would authorize the stabilization force "to use all necessary measures to carry out its mandate" in compliance with international law — U.N. phrasing that can include the use of military force if required. It also links any Israeli withdrawal from Gaza to agreed standards, milestones and timeframes tied to demilitarization, to be negotiated among the stabilization force, Israeli forces, the United States and the ceasefire guarantors.
Political context and reactions
A joint statement from the U.S. and key regional players — Qatar, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Jordan and Turkey — followed objections to earlier U.S. language that critics said was weak on Palestinian self-determination. The revised text states that, after the Palestinian Authority implements reforms and Gaza's reconstruction advances, "the conditions may finally be in place for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood." It also pledges a U.S.-facilitated dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians toward "a political horizon for peaceful and prosperous coexistence."
That language drew a strong response from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who pledged to oppose any step toward establishing a Palestinian state and argued such a move would reward Hamas and risk a larger Hamas-run entity on Israel’s border. Israel’s U.N. mission said its representative will speak at the council meeting but offered no further comment on the resolution.
Russia's draft and its implications
Russia’s rival draft uses firmer language supporting Palestinian statehood and emphasizes that the West Bank and Gaza should be united under the Palestinian Authority. The Russian U.N. mission said it floated the proposal to ensure the Security Council has "a rightful role and the necessary tools" to oversee implementation and accountability.
The Russian text asks U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres to present options for implementing elements of the 20-point plan — including the possible deployment of a stabilization force. Moscow said its proposal does not contradict the U.S. initiative and acknowledged the mediation efforts by the United States, Qatar, Egypt and Turkey in achieving the ceasefire and hostage releases.
Key unresolved questions
How to achieve meaningful demilitarization of Gaza — notably how to disarm Hamas — remains a central unresolved issue.
Another open question is whether willing troop-contributing countries from the Arab and Muslim world will participate only if the Security Council explicitly authorizes the stabilization mission. Those states have made U.N. authorization a key condition for participation.
As the council meets, diplomats and world leaders will watch closely: a Russian veto would block the U.S. text, while abstentions or a vote in favor could give the proposal the international legitimacy its architects say is crucial to stabilizing Gaza and setting a path for political talks.
