UN Security Council Approves US Resolution for Gaza Ceasefire and Deployment of Stabilization Forces

On Monday, November 17, 2025, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) formally adopted a resolution spearheaded by the United States. This pivotal document, designated Resolution 2803, enshrines international backing for President Donald Trump’s comprehensive strategy aimed at resolving the protracted conflict within the Gaza Strip. The resolution passed with an overwhelming majority, securing 13 votes in favor, with zero votes against. Notably, the Russian Federation and China opted to abstain from the vote, choosing not to exercise their veto power.

Resolution 2803 formally endorses the entirety of the 20-point Trump plan. Key provisions include an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire, the mutual exchange of prisoners and the remains of those killed, and crucially, the establishment of the International Stabilization Forces (ISF). These multinational forces are slated to draw contingents from several nations, including Egypt, Indonesia, and Pakistan, and are tasked with executing a series of critical security and humanitarian duties on the ground.

The mandate assigned to the ISF is extensive and highly sensitive. It encompasses securing the borders of the Gaza Strip, providing protection for the civilian population, and facilitating essential humanitarian operations. Most significantly, the forces are explicitly authorized to disarm paramilitary groups, specifically naming Hamas, and to dismantle their associated military infrastructure. This disarmament clause represents a core, non-negotiable element of the resolution’s security framework.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres immediately welcomed the diplomatic breakthrough, yet he underscored the urgent necessity of translating this decision into tangible, practical steps. Guterres stressed the critical importance of instantly scaling up humanitarian aid, which remains woefully insufficient following the two-year conflict. Furthermore, he insisted on the swift transition to Phase Two of the Trump plan—the initiation of a political process designed to achieve a long-term resolution based on the creation of two states for Israel and Palestine.

Speaking on behalf of the United States, Permanent Representative to the UN Mike Waltz hailed the resolution’s adoption as a major stride toward regional stability and security. Despite this broad international support, including a joint statement issued by eight Muslim-majority nations, the plan faced immediate rejection from Hamas. The radical group asserted that the resolution imposes international guardianship and argued that deploying international forces with a disarmament mandate strips them of any perceived neutrality.

Israel, through Ambassador Dani Danon, reiterated that the disarmament of Hamas remains a fundamental prerequisite for any lasting peace. However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed skepticism regarding the feasibility of fully implementing the plan’s stringent conditions. A compromise was reached within the resolution text, retaining language concerning the future possibility of establishing a Palestinian state.

Interim governance of the Gaza Strip, pending the completion of reforms by the Palestinian Authority, is to be overseen by a “Peace Council,” which the plan suggests could potentially be led by Donald Trump himself. The mandate for both the Peace Council and the Stabilization Forces is authorized to run until the end of 2027. This approval by the Security Council is widely regarded as a significant diplomatic victory for the Trump administration, confirming international endorsement of its vision for peace in the Middle East, and is expected to accelerate the formation of the ISF, a process that may take several months.