Hamas and Gaza Factions Reject UN Resolution as an 'Imposed Guardianship' Threatening Self‑Determination

Gaza leaders call UN plan an imposition that undermines Palestinian rule

Hamas and several other Palestinian factions in Gaza have publicly rejected a United Nations Security Council resolution that proposes creating a governing board and deploying an international stabilisation force to administer the Israeli‑besieged territory.

In a joint statement, the groups warned the U.S.‑backed initiative would provide "a framework that paves the way for field arrangements imposed outside the Palestinian national will." They said the draft plan, in its current form, risks becoming "an imposed guardianship or administration" that would limit Palestinians' right to self‑determination and to manage their own affairs.

"This plan would reproduce a reality that restricts the Palestinian people’s right to self‑determination," the statement said.

The factions also accused the initiative, associated with former U.S. political leadership and backed by a number of regional states, of failing to address what they describe as the root causes of the conflict — including continuing violence in the occupied West Bank and the broader Israeli occupation.

Voices from Gaza

Reactions among Gaza residents were mixed after an October 10 ceasefire temporarily reduced large‑scale bombardment and allowed limited humanitarian relief. Some welcomed the respite, while others expressed scepticism about the international plan.

"I completely reject this decision," said Moamen Abdul‑Malek, a Gaza City resident. "Our people are able to rule ourselves. We don’t need forces from Arab or foreign countries to rule us. We will bear responsibility for this land."

Mohammed Hamdan, another Gaza City resident, said the plan would also risk disarming groups he described as part of legitimate resistance. "It would strip the resistance of its weapons," he said, adding that many Gazans view resistance as a right under occupation.

Sanaa Mahmoud Kaheel warned that replacing local authority arrangements with unclear international deployments could create long‑term uncertainty. "They initially said the Palestinian Authority would take control of the Gaza Strip, and we were enthusiastic about that. But things will be unclear with international forces; we don't know what might happen tomorrow or the day after," she said.

Political and expert reactions

Mohamad Elmasry, a professor at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, said the resolution offers "no meaningful path forward" to a sovereign Palestinian state and noted the lack of any explicit guarantee for independence as cause for concern.

Opinions among Israeli officials were divided. The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement thanking U.S. partners involved in the plan, while Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir publicly warned that any steps that would further the prospects of a sovereign Palestinian state should be resisted — using violent and extreme language in his remarks.

The Palestinian Authority, which administers parts of the occupied West Bank, welcomed the resolution and said it was ready to cooperate with implementation.

Ongoing violence and humanitarian toll

Meanwhile, Gaza continued to experience strikes and ground operations. Officials reported air strikes east of Khan Younis and raids and demolition operations east of Gaza City.

Gaza’s Health Ministry has reported that nearly 70,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 170,000 wounded since the conflict escalated in October 2023. These figures are those provided by local health authorities.

Note: This report summarizes statements and reported events as conveyed by political groups, local residents and officials. Attribution is given to named individuals and institutions where their comments were recorded.