At 5 PM EST, on November 17, the U.N. Security Council passed a U.S.-sponsored resolution endorsing the controversial plan to deploy an International Stabilization Force (ISF) in Gaza. The resolution is based on President Donald Trump’s 20-point Gaza proposal and includes a “Board of Peace” to supervise Gaza’s reconstruction and governance.
Regional pushback
The plan has sparked pushback from multiple nations, including Russia, China, Algeria, and multiple other Arab countries about the yet-to-be established board that would temporarily govern the territory and the lack of any transitional role for the Palestinian Authority..
UN critics
Some UN representatives have critiqued that the resolution does not put a clear path into view for Palestinian independence. The plan was also missing a timeline for the retreat of Israeli troops from the West Bank.
“The United States will establish a dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians to agree on a political horizon for peaceful and prosperous coexistence,”
Israel will remove its troops
The plan does outline that once the ISF “establishes control and stability" in Gaza, Israel will remove its troops, but experts question the vague wording.
ISF removing power
Critics are also wary of the idea of a Stabilization Force removing power from the Palestinian Authority.
Hamas comment
A Hamas spokesman told Al Jazeera that the group rejects the presence of any foreign military personnel in Gaza, claiming it would be exchanging Israeli occupation for “foreign guardianship,” and nothing would change.
Why would Israel sign
Many experts’ doubts stem from the simple fact that Israel signed onto this accord. The verbiage used in the plan seems to imply there is a pathway for a Palestinian State, but experts warn that Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu would not have signed anything that jeopardizes Israel's future in Palestine.
PM Netanyahu
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly and publicly opposes Palestinian statehood and a Gaza governed by the Palestinian Authority.
Gaza destroyed
Israel’s war on Gaza has killed at least 69,483 Palestinians and wounded 170,706 since October 2023. A total of 1,139 people were killed in Israel during the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks, and about 200 were taken captive.