Fate of Trump's 'Gaza Peace Initiative' to Be Decided in UN Security Council Vote on the 17th

China and Russia’s Support Remains Uncertain
Russia, Holding Veto Power, Calls for Reaffirmation of the Two-State Solution

The United Nations Security Council will vote on November 17 (local time) on a resolution supporting U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace initiative for the Gaza Strip.

On the 31st of last month (local time), a United Nations Security Council meeting was held at the UN Headquarters in New York, USA. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

According to AFP, on November 15 (local time), the United States shared a draft Security Council resolution with the Council members last week and began official negotiations. The draft is designed to support President Trump’s peace plan for the Gaza Strip following a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

President Trump’s initiative includes follow-up measures to the ceasefire agreement and plans for the deployment of a multinational force in the Gaza Strip.

According to the draft resolution confirmed by AFP on November 13, the Security Council “welcomes the establishment of the Peace Committee, a transitional governing body for the Gaza Strip,” and is authorized to form a “temporary International Stabilization Force” (ISF).

The U.S. plan calls for President Trump to lead the Peace Committee until the end of 2027. The ISF will cooperate with Israel, Egypt, and newly trained Palestinian police to strengthen security in the border areas of Gaza and support the demilitarization of Gaza. Unlike previous drafts, this version also includes references to a future Palestinian state, according to AFP.

The New York Times reported that the United States has been exchanging amendments without pause during the negotiations, and that tensions have been rising throughout the past week among the 14 Council members, including the United States, European countries, and Algeria, the only Arab member.

However, Russia, a permanent member of the Council, is pushing for a separate Gaza resolution, which is seen as a variable that could affect the passage of the U.S.-backed resolution. Russia recently circulated its own draft to Council members, which does not approve the creation of the Gaza Peace Committee or the immediate deployment of the ISF. While Russia’s draft “welcomes initiatives that have led to a ceasefire,” it does not mention President Trump by name. It also calls for the recognition of Palestinian statehood and urges the UN Secretary-General to promptly submit a report on the deployment of the ISF.

The Russian UN delegation stated, “A Security Council resolution must reflect the universally recognized framework of international law and reaffirm the principle of a two-state solution for resolving the Israel-Palestine issue,” adding, “Unfortunately, these provisions have not been adequately considered in the U.S. draft.”

Russia, which holds veto power in the Security Council, could block the U.S. resolution. China, another permanent member with veto power, has also informed the United States and the Council that it aligns with Russia’s position, according to The New York Times, citing anonymous diplomats.

Currently, the United States appears to be seeking to strengthen its position by securing support from major countries. On the previous day, the United States issued a joint statement with eight Arab and Muslim countries, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and T?rkiye. These countries urged swift adoption, stating that “the (U.S.) plan provides a viable path not only for peace and stability between Israel and Palestine, but also for the entire region.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.