Gaza international force — UNITED NATIONS ?— The U.N. Security Council will vote Monday on a U.S.-drafted resolution that would enable a two-year stabilization mission in Gaza aimed at shielding civilians, sealing aid corridors and disarming non-state groups, diplomats say, AFP reports Nov. 17,2025.
The draft would require an International Stabilization Force, through the end of 2027, and authorize it to use “all necessary measures,” including training a vetted Palestinian police force and securing crossings with Israel and Egypt, according to a text seen by Reuters. Supporters portray the Gaza international force as a stepping stone from war to reconstruction.
It is a capstone of President Donald Trump’s Gaza plan, which also calls for a temporary “Board of Peace” to coordinate demilitarization and the delivery of humanitarian aid, according to the Associated Press. The U.S. contends that a mandate is essential to reassure would-be troop contributors and prevent the cease-fire from disintegrating.
However, the Gaza international force proposal is facing opposition from permanent members Russia and China, as well as some skepticism among Arab nations regarding the scope and command of this proposed force, according to PBS NewsHour. Negotiators say the deal will require at least nine votes and be veto-proof.
Moscow muddied the calculus by circulating a rival text last week, undercutting Washington’s approach and suggesting potential veto threats, Reuters reports. American diplomats nevertheless worked to finalize Monday’s decision and secure the security track.
Funding and reconstruction are other obstacles. The World Bank signalled its support for the draft in private as part of a recovery drive, with multilateral estimates putting the bill to rebuild Gaza at around $70 billion, Reuters reported.
Palestinian factions remain opposed. Hamas described the Gaza stabilization plan as “dangerous,” ruling out disarmament and considering the presence of foreign forces a breach of sovereignty, according to the Times of Israel. That position muddies any possible timeline for the implementation of an international force on the ground in Gaza.
Israel’s politics are also fractious. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has caught flak from his own far-right flank for discussing a path toward Palestinian statehood and over which countries would be allowed to send troops, Reuters says.
Monday’s vote would mark a dramatic turn in U.S. policy, which had blocked resolutions on Gaza for months and instead sought council backing for a stabilization mission, as previous Reuters reporting shows. Washington insists that a mandate is necessary to avoid a return to large-scale fighting.
The notion of a Gaza international force is not new. In 2007, Hamas threatened to attack any foreign troops, according to a Reuters report at the time; Israeli officials said in 2007 that it would demand peacekeepers with teeth, according to another cable; and in 2008, a U.N. deployment on Gaza’s southern edge was considered just as circumstances allowed, an analysis by Reuters stated.
Following the 2014 hostilities, analysts called for alternative stabilization formulas that would link security, governance, and aid. In a brief for the International Crisis Group, among other options and pitfalls that resonate in today’s discussion are those discussed in 2014, including the necessity of clear mandates and buy-in from all sides, as noted in the 2014 paper.</p
