UN Security Council Approves Trump's Gaza Peace Plan

Yesterday, the United Nations Security Council approved an American plan to ensure peace and stabilize Gaza for the next few years, paving the way to a possible Palestinian statehood.

The resolution included US President Donald Trump's 20-point peace plan, which approves the creation of an International Stabilization Force that would protect the citizens of Gaza and work to maintain peace with a new police force and demilitarization measures. They would also secure Gaza's borders and facilitate the distribution of humanitarian aid, further solving the crisis.

Another key point within the resolution includes the creation of a Board of Peace as a temporary government over Gaza, with Trump as the chair of the organization for the next two years, in addition to the total withdrawal of all Israeli forces from the Strip once the situation is under control.

These two organizations will work to restore peace in Gaza over the next two years, with the ISF working under the supervision of a Palestinian Authority, the latter of which will answer to the Board of Peace chaired by Trump.

Finally, after pressure from Arab countries surrounding Palestine, the resolution also includes that if their duties have been “faithfully carried out and Gaza redevelopment has advanced, the conditions may be in place for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood,” according to AP.

This addition drew the ire of various right-wing politicians within Israel, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has strongly rejected this statement and refuses to allow Palestine to become a state. Hamas also rejected the resolution, claiming that bringing a foreign power into Gaza violates the rights of the Palestinian people.

Nevertheless, while Russia and China, two nations with veto power, had created their own resolution that supported Palestinian statehood, they abstained from voting on the US-led resolution, allowing it to pass unanimously.

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Image credit to AFP