What's happened
The UN Security Council voted 13-2 to endorse a US-led resolution supporting a ceasefire and a transitional governance plan for Gaza, including deploying an international stabilisation force. Russia and China abstained, citing concerns over Palestinian participation and vagueness. The resolution aims to facilitate Gaza's path to statehood and peace.
What's behind the headline?
The UN resolution signifies a pivotal move toward stabilising Gaza and advancing the two-state solution, yet it faces hurdles. Russia and China abstained, criticizing the plan's vagueness and sidelining Palestinian participation, which could undermine its legitimacy. The resolution's success hinges on the deployment of the stabilisation force and disarmament of Hamas, which remains a complex challenge. The support from Arab and Muslim nations indicates regional backing, but Israel's opposition to Palestinian statehood and concerns over demilitarisation could impede progress. The resolution's future will depend on the implementation of reforms by the Palestinian Authority and the international community's ability to coordinate effectively, with potential repercussions for regional stability and peace prospects.
What the papers say
The articles from Al Jazeera, The New Arab, SBS, France 24, and AP News collectively highlight the international consensus on the resolution's significance, with US President Trump praising it as a historic breakthrough. However, they also reveal divisions, notably Russia and China's abstentions due to concerns over Palestinian participation and vagueness. The coverage underscores the complex negotiations behind the scenes, the regional support from Arab and Muslim countries, and the opposition from Israel and Hamas. The differing emphasis—some sources focusing on the US-led initiative, others on the geopolitical tensions—illustrates the multifaceted nature of this diplomatic effort. Overall, the coverage suggests that while the resolution is a crucial step, its success depends on effective implementation and overcoming political disagreements.
How we got here
Following two years of conflict between Israel and Hamas, a fragile ceasefire was established in October 2025. The US proposed a 20-point peace plan, including a transitional authority led by the US president and an international stabilisation force. The resolution's approval marks a significant step toward implementing this plan, amid negotiations and opposition from some nations and groups.
Go deeper
Common question
-
What does the UN's Gaza ceasefire plan involve?
The UN has recently approved a ceasefire plan aimed at stabilizing Gaza after years of conflict. This plan includes establishing a transitional authority and deploying an international stabilisation force to oversee demilitarisation and border security. But what exactly does this mean for the region, and how might it impact the ongoing conflict? Below, we explore the key details of the UN's approach and what comes next.
More on these topics
-
The United Nations Security Council is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations, charged with ensuring international peace and security, recommending the admission of new UN members to the General Assembly, and approving any changes to the UN
-
Benjamin Netanyahu is an Israeli politician serving as Prime Minister of Israel since 2009, and previously from 1996 to 1999. Netanyahu is also the Chairman of the Likud – National Liberal Movement.
-
Hamas is a Palestinian Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist militant organization. It has a social service wing, Dawah, and a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.
-
The Gaza Strip, or simply Gaza, is a self-governing Palestinian territory on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, that borders Egypt on the southwest for 11 kilometers and Israel on the east and north along a 51 km border.
-
Donald John Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
-
The United States of America, commonly known as the United States or America, is a country mostly located in central North America, between Canada and Mexico.
-
Gaza most commonly refers to:
Gaza Strip, a Palestinian territory on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea
Gaza City, a city in the Gaza Strip
Gaza may also refer to:
-
Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country located in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. Covering an area of 17,125,200 square kilometres, it is the largest country in the world by area, spanning more than one-eighth of the Earth's in
-
The Palestinian National Authority is the interim self-government body established in 1994 following the Gaza–Jericho Agreement to govern the Gaza Strip and Areas A and B of the West Bank, as a consequence of the 1993 Oslo Accords.
-
China, officially the People's Republic of China, is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population of around 1.4 billion in 2019.