Russian Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya offered a scathing parting shot after the UN Security Council passed a US-drafted Gaza resolution, warning that the body had just given “complete control” to the United States. Russia, along with China, abstained from the vote, allowing the resolution endorsing President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan to pass. Nebenzya’s comments, however, highlighted a deep rift, as he complained the UN was being sidelined in favor of a “Board of Peace” and “international stabilization force” (ISF) run by Washington.
The resolution, adopted on Monday, authorizes this “Board of Peace,” chaired by Trump, to oversee Gaza’s reconstruction. It also empowers the ISF to conduct a full demilitarization of the enclave. Nebenzya’s criticism focused on the fact that these bodies are undefined, saying the council was “giving its blessing… on the basis of Washington’s promises” to a plan “the modalities of which we know nothing about.”
The US, which drafted the resolution, dismissed these concerns and celebrated a major diplomatic win. Ambassador Mike Waltz told the council the plan “dismantles Hamas’ grip” and “charts a possible pathway for Palestinian self-determination.” President Trump called the vote “historic” and promised more details on his “Board of Peace” soon.
This “historic” plan, however, faces a grim reality. Hamas, the ruling group in Gaza, immediately rejected the resolution. In a statement, it called the plan an “international guardianship mechanism” and vowed it “will not disarm.” This act of defiance puts Hamas on a collision course with the newly mandated ISF.
In a key diplomatic victory for the US, the Palestinian Authority welcomed the resolution. Diplomats said this support was crucial in preventing a Russian veto. This endorsement, however, is likely tied to a clause referencing a “pathway to… statehood,” a clause that has, in turn, drawn public opposition from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, highlighting the plan’s fragile and contradictory nature.