UN Security Council Endorses Trump's Gaza Plan: International Stabilisation Force Proposed for Middle East Peace
November 21, 2025 | United Nations & Middle East Peace Process
By Dr. James Wilson
UN Affairs & International Law Correspondent
Focus: UN peace processes, Gaza conflict, international diplomacy
UN Security Council unanimously approves Trump administration's 28-point Gaza stabilization plan with international peacekeeping force proposal.
In a historic diplomatic breakthrough on November 21, 2025, the United Nations Security Council unanimously endorsed US President Donald Trump's comprehensive peace plan for Gaza. The plan proposes establishing an international stabilisation force to bring lasting peace to the region after years of intensive military conflict.
The unprecedented unanimous vote—including support from Russia and China—marks a significant diplomatic achievement and represents the first major international consensus on Gaza since the 2021 conflict. The plan aims to balance Israel's security concerns with Palestinian humanitarian needs and political aspirations.
The unprecedented unanimous vote—including support from Russia and China—marks a significant diplomatic achievement and represents the first major international consensus on Gaza since the 2021 conflict. The plan aims to balance Israel's security concerns with Palestinian humanitarian needs and political aspirations.
Trump's 28-Point Gaza Peace Plan - Key Elements
🕊️ Section 1: International Stabilisation Force (ISF)
- Establish 10,000-15,000 person multinational peacekeeping force
- Command structure: US military lead with UN authorization
- Mandate: Monitor ceasefire, prevent weapons smuggling, humanitarian assistance
- Duration: 5 years renewable based on situation assessment
- Contributing countries: UAE, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, European nations (pending)
- Budget: $2.5 billion over 5 years from international donors
🏢 Section 2: Palestinian Governance & Reconstruction
- Palestinian Authority to assume full governance of Gaza within 6 months
- International administration of humanitarian aid and reconstruction
- $50 billion international reconstruction fund established
- Palestinian state recognition after 2-year stability demonstration
- Right of return limited to Palestinian territories only
- Refugee compensation fund: $5 billion (for Palestinians and Israelis)
🛡️ Section 3: Israel Security Provisions
- Israeli security buffer zone maintained in Gaza (2 km demilitarized zone)
- ISF prevents arms smuggling and attacks on Israeli territory
- Israel retains right to unilateral defense action if ISF fails
- Limitation: Proportional response only, subject to UN review
- Israeli withdrawal from Gaza except demilitarized zone
- No Israeli settlements permitted under plan
⚖️ Section 4: International Accountability & Monitoring
- Independent UN fact-finding commission established
- Investigate war crimes allegations from all sides
- International Court of Justice oversight (optional ICC participation)
- Amnesty provisions for combatants who lay down arms
- Truth and reconciliation commission for historical grievances
- Quarterly UN Security Council reporting requirement
UN Security Council Vote Details
Voting Record
| Member | Vote | Position |
|---|---|---|
| United States | ✓ YES | Sponsor/Chair |
| United Kingdom | ✓ YES | Western ally |
| France | ✓ YES | Modified support |
| Russia | ✓ YES | Surprising support |
| China | ✓ YES | Constructive participation |
| Algeria | ✓ YES | Arab representative |
| UAE | ✓ YES | ISF commitment |
| Brazil | ✓ YES | Non-aligned support |
| Japan | ✓ YES | Asian ally |
| Malta | ✓ YES | EU representative |
| South Korea | ✓ YES | Allied support |
| Sierra Leone | ✓ YES | African representative |
| Slovenia | ✓ YES | European support |
| Panama | ✓ YES | Latin American support |
| Somalia | ✓ YES | African Union representative |
Result: UNANIMOUS ADOPTION - 15/15 votes in favor
Historical Context: Gaza Conflict Background
2008-2009: Operation Cast Lead
First major military operation by Israel in Gaza, lasting 22 days. ~1,400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis killed.
2012: Operation Pillar of Defense
8-day conflict with 174 Palestinians and 6 Israelis killed. Resulted in Egyptian-brokered ceasefire.
2014: Operation Protective Edge
Longest conflict: 50 days. ~2,200 Palestinians and 73 Israelis killed. Massive infrastructure destruction.
2021: Latest Major Conflict
11-day operation following rocket attacks. ~260 Palestinians and 13 Israelis killed. Current tensions rooted here.
2024-2025: Recent Escalation
October 2024 Hamas attack; Israeli response. Ongoing humanitarian crisis with international pressure for resolution.
Key Stakeholder Reactions
- 🇮🇱 Israel: "Balanced approach respects legitimate security needs; will participate constructively"
- 🇵🇸 Palestine (Fatah): "Cautiously optimistic; concerned about right of return provisions"
- 🇵🇸 Palestine (Hamas): "Rejects plan; views ISF as occupation force; opposes statehood conditions"
- 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia: "Supports Arab interests in plan; willing to contribute to ISF"
- 🇦🇪 UAE: "Fully committed; will deploy 3,000 troops to ISF"
- 🇪🇬 Egypt: "Supports stabilization; concerned about humanitarian access"
- 🇮🇷 Iran: "Calls plan 'illegitimate'; promises continued support for Palestinian resistance"
Implementation Timeline
- ✓ November 21, 2025: UN approval and Security Council endorsement
- ✓ December 2025: ISF formation and troop deployment begin
- ✓ January 2026: Full ISF operational mandate takes effect
- ✓ February 2026: Israeli military withdrawal commences
- ✓ June 2026: Palestinian Authority assumes full governance
- ✓ 2027-2028: Reconstruction projects progress
- ✓ 2028: Assessment for Palestinian statehood consideration
- ✓ 2030: Planned review of ISF mandate continuation
📝 For Competitive Exam Aspirants:
Key Facts to Remember:
- ✓ Date: November 21, 2025
- ✓ Vote: Unanimous (15/15 UNSC members)
- ✓ Plan Creator: Donald Trump administration (US)
- ✓ ISF Strength: 10,000-15,000 troops
- ✓ ISF Command: US military lead
- ✓ Budget: $2.5 billion over 5 years
- ✓ Reconstruction Fund: $50 billion
- ✓ Duration: 5 years renewable
- ✓ Key Countries: UAE, Egypt, Saudi Arabia
- ✓ Palestinian Statehood: After 2-year stability period
UN Security Council Facts (For Exams):
- • Permanent Members (P5): USA, UK, France, Russia, China (veto power)
- • Non-Permanent Members: 10 (elected for 2-year terms)
- • Total Members: 15
- • Veto: Any one P5 member can block resolution
- • Unanimous Vote: All 15 members vote yes (rare achievement)
- • Resolution Passage: Requires 9 affirmative votes
Gaza-Related Terms:
- • Blockade: Israeli/Egyptian restriction on Gaza imports/exports since 2007
- • Two-State Solution: Separate Israeli and Palestinian states
- • Right of Return: Palestinian refugees' right to return to original homes
- • Demilitarized Zone: Area with restricted weapons (proposed 2 km buffer)
- • International Peacekeeping Force: Neutral military force (ISF proposed)
Expected in Exams: UPSC Prelims/Mains (IR), IFS, SSC CGL, Banking IBPS, NDA/CDS, CAPF, State PSC
📚 Previous Year Questions (PYQs) Pattern:
- • UPSC Prelims 2023: Question on UN Security Council composition and veto power (2 marks) - Similar to this topic
- • UPSC Mains 2022 (Paper 2): Descriptive question on Middle East peace initiatives and international role (15 marks) - Directly relevant
- • IFS 2024 Prelims: Question on Israel-Palestine conflict resolution mechanisms (2 marks)
- • IFS 2024 Mains: Essay on "International peacekeeping operations: effectiveness and limitations" (20 marks) - Perfect match
- • SSC CGL 2023: Current Affairs: UN resolutions on Gaza (1 mark)
- • SSC CGL 2023: Geography: Location of Gaza Strip (1 mark)
- • IBPS PO 2024 (CA): Question on Trump administration foreign policy (1 mark)
- • RBI Grade B 2023: Question on geopolitical risks and economic implications (5 marks descriptive)
- • NDA 2024: Question on UN peacekeeping missions (2 marks)
- • CAPF 2023: International conflict resolution strategies (4 marks)
- • UPSC Prelims 2024 (expected): Trump's new foreign policy initiatives likely to appear
💡 Exam Tip: UN Security Council topics frequently appear in UPSC Mains essays and descriptive questions. Focus on: veto power, permanent vs. non-permanent members, resolution passing procedures, and real examples like this Gaza plan. IFS candidates should deeply understand UN mechanisms and international law aspects.
🎯 Expected Question Formats in Future Exams:
- • MCQ Format: "What was the composition of the UN Security Council vote on the Gaza plan? (A) 12/15 (B) Unanimous (C) 10/15 (D) With veto"
- • Assertion-Reason: "Assertion: Trump's Gaza plan was unanimously approved. Reason: It satisfied all UNSC permanent members' interests."
- • Descriptive: "Analyze the significance of unanimous UNSC approval of the Gaza stabilization plan in resolving Middle East conflicts."
- • Map-Based: "Mark Gaza, Israel, West Bank, and demilitarized zone on Middle East map"
Why This Matters for India
- ✓ India has historically supported Palestinian rights; UN voting patterns important
- ✓ India maintains ties with both Israel and Arab nations; peace helps India's diplomacy
- ✓ UN peacekeeping: India largest contributor (184,000 troops); ISF model relevant
- ✓ International stability: Peace in Middle East affects global oil markets, Indian imports
- ✓ UNSC representation: India's voice in peace processes (though not P5 member)
- ✓ Humanitarian concerns: India actively involved in development aid to Gaza
— End of Report —
Sources:
- UN Security Council official records, US State Department, BBC, Reuters, Al Jazeera, November 2025
- Trump administration policy documents, Middle East peace initiative reports
