U.S. Reportedly Drafts UN Security Council Resolution for Establishment of International Stabilization Force in Gaza

Latest Developments

• Resolution Outlined: The United States has reportedly sent UN Security Council member states a preliminary draft of a resolution establishing an International Stabilization Force (ISF) in Gaza. The draft will serve as a starting point for member states to negotiate the process of implementing the ISF in Gaza, in line with U.S. President Trump’s 20-point proposal for the enclave. Broken down into several sections, the plan “welcomes the establishment of the Board of Peace (BoP) as a transitional governance administration” in Gaza and “authorizes member states working with the BoP and the BoP to establish a temporary International Stabilization Force (ISF) in Gaza to deploy under unified command acceptable to the BoP, with forces contributed by participating States, in close consultation and cooperation with the Arab Republic of Egypt and the State of Israel, and to use all necessary measures to carry out its mandate consistent with international law.”
• Force Would Oversee Demilitarization of Gaza: The proposed ISF would be required to oversee the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip, “including the destruction and prevention of rebuilding of military, terror, and offensive infrastructure, as well as the permanent decommissioning of weapons from non-state armed groups,” in reference to Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist organizations operating in Gaza. The force would also be tasked with protecting Gazan civilians, supporting humanitarian deliveries and logistical needs, and providing training to Palestinian Authority police officers stationed in Gaza.
• Questions Remain: With the draft’s formal submission by the United States expected as early as next week, questions remain regarding countries’ willingness to send troops for the ISF. Jordan’s King Abdullah II said on October 27 that it would be difficult for the United States to persuade countries to join the proposed force if it meant militarily confronting Hamas. “What is the mandate of security forces inside of Gaza? And we hope that it is peacekeeping, because if it’s peace enforcing, nobody will want to touch that,” the Hashemite monarch told the BBC. Abdullah asserted that peacekeeping would involve “sitting there supporting the local police force, the Palestinians, which Jordan and Egypt are willing to train in large numbers,” while enforcement would entail “running around Gaza on patrol with weapons, that’s not a situation that any country would like to get involved in.”

FDD Expert Response

“The resolution appears to give the president broad flexibility to be creative in implementing his plan for Gaza. Nothing is foreclosed, all authorities are on the table, and Israel is not sidelined or impeded from defending its security. The question is whether China and Russia will sign off when Hamas and Iran push for modifications.” — Edmund Fitton-Brown, Senior Fellow

“Hamas and its allies will do their best to undermine and delay a UN resolution that would cement the terrorist group’s dismantlement. Hamas has no incentive to dissolve itself, unless it cares about ordinary Palestinians, which it doesn’t. Instead, Hamas borrows from the Middle Eastern autocrats’ playbook of agreeing to reforms and concessions when the temperature is high and reneging as soon as the pressure relaxes.” — David May, Research Manager and Senior Research Analyst

FDD Background and Analysis

“Jordan’s King Abdullah II Says No Country Will Volunteer to ‘Enforce’ Gaza Ceasefire,” FDD Flash Brief

“Turkey’s Gulf Tour and Erdogan’s Gaza Ambitions are Dangerous,” by Sinan Ciddi and Ahmad Sharawi

“What must be done — and NOT done — to make sure Gaza cease-fire holds,” by Bradley Bowman

“UNRWA Is ‘Subsidiary of Hamas’: Rubio Asserts UN Agency Will Play No Role in Gaza’s Future,” FDD Flash Brief