Why the UN’s acceptance of the President’s Gaza peace plan is surprising, yet good
By Easton Martin | November 18, 2025
On November 17, the Security Council approved a U.S.-drafted resolution backing President Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace plan by a vote of 13–0, with only China and Russia abstaining. In a conflict this polarized, a resolution so closely aligned with a sitting U.S. president’s detailed blueprint winning broad support is unusual
The resolution does more than endorse a ceasefire and hostage-release deal. It authorizes an international stabilization force tasked with securing Gaza, demilitarizing armed groups, and overseeing reconstruction. Alongside this, it establishes a Board of Peace, a transitional administration chaired by President Trump, to manage governance and aid coordination
Critically, the text now includes a conditional reference to a future Palestinian state. If the Palestinian Authority reforms and Gaza’s redevelopment progresses, a credible pathway toward self-determination may open. That concession appears to have helped win over key Arab states, some of which have signaled readiness to contribute troops to the stabilization force
Yet not everyone is on board. Hamas has strongly rejected the plan, calling the international force a guardianship mechanism that undermines Palestinian sovereignty, especially given its disarmament mandate. Within Israel, certain right-wing leaders remain opposed to any path toward statehood, even as the plan anchors demilitarization of Hamas, a central Israeli demand
What makes the UN’s endorsement so surprising is both form and substance. The Council typically shies away from resolutions that appear to be deeply shaped by a single national leader, especially one as polarizing as President Trump. But here, member states seem to have calculated that backing a concrete, enforceable plan, even one effectively authored in Washington, may be more actionable than open-ended diplomatic statements or vague calls for peace
