Russia and China abstain as Arab and Muslim nations endorse international stabilization mission
November 17, 2025 — In a rare moment of consensus on the Middle East, the United Nations Security Council voted 13–0 on Monday to adopt a U.S.-sponsored resolution endorsing former President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan for Gaza and authorizing the creation of an International Stabilization Force to oversee security and reconstruction in the war-ravaged enclave. Russia and China abstained, avoiding a veto and allowing the measure to pass.
The vote gives international legal weight to Washington’s proposal for moving beyond the cease-fire toward rebuilding Gaza after two years of devastating conflict. The resolution calls for the demilitarization of armed groups, the entry of an international peace force, and the establishment of a “Board of Peace” to coordinate humanitarian relief, infrastructure repair, and local governance.
A Diplomatic Breakthrough Built on Regional Backing
Support from key Arab and Muslim countries — including Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Turkey, and Pakistan — proved decisive in persuading Moscow and Beijing to abstain. Several of those nations are expected to contribute personnel or resources to the stabilization force.
Washington hailed the outcome as “a historic step toward peace and accountability,” arguing that regional participation will ensure legitimacy and reduce the risk of renewed hostilities. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield said the mission would “open a new chapter in the global community’s commitment to rebuilding Gaza and preventing future cycles of war.”
The Debate Over Justice and Statehood
Despite the strong majority, the resolution drew criticism from several Council members — among them France, Guyana, Pakistan, Slovenia, and Somalia — who objected to its failure to include explicit recognition of Palestinian statehood.
Algeria’s ambassador, Amar Bendjama, representing the Arab Group, said, “Genuine peace in the Middle East cannot be achieved without justice — justice for the Palestinian people, who have waited for decades for the creation of their independent state.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking ahead of the vote, reaffirmed his government’s stance: “Our opposition to a Palestinian state in any territory has not changed.” Israeli officials expressed cautious approval of the cease-fire mechanisms but rejected any implication that the resolution paves the way to sovereignty for Palestinians.
Hamas and Regional Responses
The Hamas leadership in Gaza denounced the plan, calling it a “foreign guardianship” designed to replace rather than empower Palestinian institutions. “No foreign force has the right to rule Gaza,” a spokesperson said, warning that any troops entering the Strip “will be treated as occupiers.”
Regional capitals offered mixed but generally pragmatic reactions.
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Egypt and Jordan welcomed the vote as a “necessary step” to stabilize their borders.
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Qatar and Turkey emphasized that reconstruction and humanitarian relief must precede political restructuring.
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Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates, both potential troop contributors, expressed concern about possible clashes between Arab soldiers and Palestinian militants, which could inflame public opinion at home.
European governments, led by France and Germany, backed the resolution while pressing for a “credible political horizon” toward a two-state solution. The European Union pledged financial assistance for Gaza’s rebuilding under international supervision.
Enormous Challenges Ahead
The newly mandated International Stabilization Force faces a daunting task: disarming militant factions, restoring order, and facilitating the safe return of displaced civilians. Even supporters acknowledge that implementation could take months and depends on delicate coordination among local, regional, and international actors.
Questions remain over command structure, rules of engagement, and the timeline for Israeli military withdrawal. The success of the mission may hinge on whether it can operate without reigniting conflict or alienating the very population it seeks to protect.
Diplomats involved in the negotiations say the Board of Peace will serve as a transitional authority composed of U.N. representatives, regional envoys, and Palestinian technocrats. Its mandate includes organizing elections within 18 months and ensuring transparency in reconstruction funding — estimated by the World Bank at over $30 billion.
A Fragile but Symbolic Consensus
For now, the resolution represents a symbolic turning point — the first time since the Gaza crisis erupted in 2023 that the world’s major powers, Arab states, and Israel’s allies have coalesced around a single framework for peace. Yet the plan’s credibility will depend on whether it brings real change on the ground.
As one European diplomat put it, “The Security Council has spoken with unity, but peace will only take root when Gazans experience justice, not just promises. The world has given Gaza a mandate for renewal — now comes the hard part: making it real.”