The United States has put forward a bold proposal to the United Nations: a stabilization force in Gaza that would remain in place until 2027, aiming to bring lasting peace to a region ravaged by conflict. But here’s where it gets controversial—this plan, part of Donald Trump’s broader strategy to end the war between Israel and Hamas, hinges on international cooperation and UN approval, which is far from guaranteed.
According to a draft text shared by the U.S. and confirmed by two anonymous officials, this force would operate under a UN resolution for at least two years. The proposal is just the starting point for what promises to be intense negotiations among the 15-member UN Security Council and other global partners. And this is the part most people miss—Arab and other nations interested in contributing troops are insisting on UN backing to legitimize their involvement.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized in Doha, “What we believe is that whatever entity is created in Gaza should have the legitimacy of a mandate from the Security Council.” This mandate is seen as crucial for gaining international support, but it’s also where the plan faces its toughest challenge: convincing permanent council members like China and Russia not to veto it.
The draft outlines a broad mission for the force, including demilitarizing Gaza, decommissioning weapons held by non-state armed groups, and securing border areas alongside a trained Palestinian police force. It also calls for close cooperation with Egypt and Israel, as well as ensuring the uninterrupted flow of humanitarian aid. Here’s the kicker—the plan explicitly demands the “full resumption” of aid by the UN, Red Cross, and Red Crescent, with safeguards to prevent diversion of supplies.
But the elephant in the room is Hamas. Trump’s 20-step plan for ceasefire and reconstruction hinges on disarming the group, a step Hamas has not fully accepted. This raises a critical question: Can a stabilization force succeed without Hamas’s cooperation?
Meanwhile, the fragile ceasefire brokered by the U.S. has shown signs of progress. On Tuesday, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the return of the remains of another hostage held in Gaza, bringing the total to 21 since the ceasefire began on October 10. The remains were identified as those of IDF soldier Itay Chen, marking a somber yet significant milestone.
However, the process is far from smooth. Hamas has returned one to three bodies every few days, with Israel pushing for faster returns. For every Israeli hostage returned, Israel has released the remains of 15 Palestinians, totaling 270 so far. Yet, fewer than half have been identified due to a lack of DNA testing kits in Gaza. The Health Ministry, part of the Hamas-run government, has resorted to posting photos of remains online in hopes of identification by families.
The conflict itself was sparked by Hamas’s attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed approximately 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage. Israel’s retaliatory offensive has resulted in the deaths of over 68,800 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between combatants and civilians. While independent experts generally consider the ministry’s records reliable, Israel has disputed these figures without providing an alternative count.
Now, here’s the controversial question—Is Israel’s response proportional, or does it cross the line into genocide, as some UN inquiries have suggested? Israel vehemently denies these accusations, but the debate rages on.
As the world watches, the success of the U.S. proposal hinges on navigating these complex political and humanitarian challenges. Will the stabilization force bring the peace Gaza so desperately needs, or will it become another chapter in the region’s long history of conflict? We’d love to hear your thoughts—do you think this plan can work, or is it doomed from the start? Let us know in the comments!
