S'pore welcomes UN Security Council Resolution on Trump's Gaza peace plan

On Nov. 18, the United Nations Security Council passed a United States proposal to deploy an international stabilisation force in the Gaza Strip.

Board of peace

UN News reported that the resolution welcomed U.S. president Donald Trump’s 20-point Comprehensive Plan, initially announced on Sep. 29.

It welcomed the establishment of a “Board of Peace” (BoP) as a transitional administration in Gaza that will be responsible for coordinating reconstruction efforts, and authorised the board to establish a temporary International Stabilization Force (ISF) in Gaza.

The ISF will deploy under a unified command “acceptable to the BoP, and countries will contribute personnel to the force “in close consultation and cooperation” with Egypt and Israel.

The Financial Times reported that the “temporary structure” would govern the Gaza Strip until an “internationally recognised Palestinian government was ready to take over control”.

The resolution was passed 13 out of the 15 UNSC members, with permanent members China and Russia abstaining, but not vetoing.

Trump hails vote

Trump posted on Truth Social after the vote, congratulating the world on what he called “the incredible Vote of the United Nations Security Council” for endorsing the BoP, which he said he would chair.

He said it would go over as “one of the biggest approvals” in the history of the UN.

He thanked the UNSC members, including China and Russia, as well as countries that had strongly backed the effort, such as the Gulf States, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, and Indonesia.

Singapore welcomes adoption

A spokesperson for Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Singapore welcomed the adoption of the UNSC resolution, calling it a “significant step forward towards lasting peace in Gaza”.

It was “critical that the current ceasefire be maintained by all parties” in order to allow for the swift and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

“Singapore will contribute to international efforts for the reconstruction of Gaza upon a permanent ceasefire being secured”.

Singapore would also welcome the U.S.’s proposal to “establish a dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians to agree on a political horizon for peaceful and prosperous coexistence”.

Singapore reiterated its support for the “right of the Palestinians to self-determination and their own state as part of a negotiated two-State solution, consistent with relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions”.

Obstacles

Trump’s 20-point Comprehensive Plan has been hailed as a means to bring to an end two years of intense violence in Gaza, which has reportedly killed as many as 65,000 Gazans.

A ceasefire between Hamas and Israel has largely held since going into effect at the end of September, despite incidents of violence.

But turning the ceasefire into a permanent peace has several potential obstacles.

While the Palestinian Authority, which largely controls the non-contiguous West Bank, has welcomed the resolution and expressed its “full readiness to cooperate” with the Trump administration’s plan, Hamas is less welcoming.

Al Jazeera reported that Hamas has “slammed” the resolution, and has stated its misgivings about disarmament, a requirement of Trump’s comprehensive plan, saying that assigning the ISF to disarm “resistance groups” would strip it of its neutrality and turn it into "a party to the conflict in favour of occupation".

Meanwhile, The Guardian reported that Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has again said his government opposed the creation of a Palestinian state.

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Top image via @UN_News_Centre/X