By Iftikhar Ali

UNITED NATIONS, Nov 18 (APP):The UN Security Council adopted a resolution Monday endorsing US President Donald Trump’s peace plan for Gaza and an international force as well as a governing “Board of Peace” following two years of Israeli war, with Pakistan underscoring that the authority in the enclave must remain with Palestinians through a committee.

The 15-member Council voted 13-0, with 2 permanent members — China and Russia — abstaining.

The text welcomes the Comprehensive Plan announced by President Trump on 29 September. The first phase of the 20-point plan led to the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel days later.

After its adoption, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad commended President Trump’s plan as its primary objective was to stop the bloodshed, save the lives of innocent Palestinians, including women and children, maintain the ceasefire, ensure large-scale humanitarian relief, and secure the full withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from Gaza.

At the same time, the Pakistani envoy pointed out that the “Board of Peace” (BoP) was envisaged as a “transitional oversight mechanism” whose mandate expires in 2027 unless renewed.

“Importantly,” he added, “the executive and administrative authority in Gaza must remain with the Palestinians through a Palestinian Committee”.

“Pakistan’s consistent policy, and every action pursuant to it, is for a just and lasting resolution of the Palestinian Question based on international legitimacy – Palestinian self-determination and the establishment of a sovereign, independent and contiguous State of Palestine based on pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital,” Ambassador Asim Ahmad said.

“That must be the ultimate objective, and the culmination, of any peace process or initiative on the Middle East”.

Monday’s resolution also welcomes the establishment of a Board of Peace (BoP) “as a transitional administration” in Gaza that will coordinate reconstruction efforts.

It authorizes the BoP to establish a temporary International Stabilization Force (ISF) in Gaza “to deploy under unified command acceptable to the BoP”.

Arab and other Muslim countries that expressed interest in providing troops for an international force had previously indicated that a UN mandate was essential for their participation. At their behest, the US had included more defined language about Palestinian self-determination in the draft to get it over the finish line.

The draft now says “conditions may finally be in place for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood” after the Palestinian Authority, which has limited self-governance in the occupied West Bank, carries out reforms and advances are made in the redevelopment of Gaza.

That language angered Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said on Sunday that Israel remained opposed to a Palestinian state and pledged to demilitarize Gaza “the easy way or the hard way.”

Muslim-majority countries will contribute personnel to the ISF “in close consultation and cooperation” with Egypt and Israel.

“Thank you for joining us in charting a new course in the Middle East for Israelis and Palestinians and all the people of the region alike,” US Ambassador Mike Waltz said after the vote.

“Today’s resolution represents another significant step towards a stable Gaza that will be able to prosper and an environment that will allow Israel to live in security.”

He said the ISF “will stabilize the security environment, support the demilitarization of Gaza, dismantle terrorist infrastructure, decommission weapons and maintain the safety of Palestinian civilians.”

China and Russia, while not supporting the resolution, let it sail through by abstaining in the vote. But they did highlight its deficiencies they perceived, especially that it sidelines UN’s role.

China’s UN Ambassador Fu Cong said the Council must secure a lasting ceasefire, address Gaza’s humanitarian crisis and begin reconstruction, but expressed “deep worry” that the resolution was vague on the structure and mandate of the Board of Peace and the International Stabilization Force.

He criticized the text for giving too little visibility to Palestine and failing to clearly affirm Palestinian sovereignty and the two-State solution. He also faulted the rushed, non-consultative process and the limited UN role envisioned. Citing these concerns and regional positions, he said China abstained.

Russia’s UN Ambassador Vasily Nebenzy said his country could not support the draft, arguing it fails to uphold the “two States, two peoples” principle and improperly grants the International Stabilization Force peace-enforcement powers that could make it a party to the conflict.

He noted that none of the potential troop contributors agreed to such a mandate. Further, he warned that the text risks becoming a cover for United States and Israeli “experiments” in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, recalling past United States-driven initiatives that produced the opposite of their stated goals.

Algerian Ambassador Amar Bendjama acknowledged the efforts undertaken by President Trump in advancing peace worldwide – but stressed that genuine peace in the Middle East cannot be achieved “without justice for the Palestinian people who have waited for decades for the establishment of their independent State.”

He noted that the text has received the support of Arab and Muslim countries and that “the Palestinian Authority at the highest level has openly welcomed the initiative”.

In his remarks, Ambassador Asim Ahmad, the Pakistani envoy, said that Pakistan’s position on the Palestinian question has always been in line with and in support of Palestine and the Arab countries as well as the Group of eight Arab-Islamic countries: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Turkiye and Pakistan, who came together in September, in support of President Trump’s commendable initiative to bring the war in Gaza to an end.

“We have welcomed that initiative because not only it got the ceasefire on ground, it subscribed to the need for humanitarian assistance, reconstruction, provision of a secure and stable environment, and the hope for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood.”

Throughout the negotiations on the draft resolution, Pakistan supported the proposals of the Arab Group submitted by Algeria, and also its own amendments to make the text more balanced, thanking the penholder, the United States, for incorporating some of its suggestions.

“Some important critical suggestions, however, were not reflected, such as: a clear political path to Palestinian self-determination and statehood, the central role of the Palestinian Authority in governance and reconstruction, and enhanced involvement of the UN, besides clarifications about the Board of Peace (BoP) and the mandate of the International Stabilization Force (ISF),” the Pakistani envoy said.

Asserting their crucial aspects, Ambassador Asim Ahmad hoped further details in coming weeks will provide the much-needed clarity on these issues.

“After two years of devastating war and an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, where more than 69,000 innocent Palestinians have been killed, most of them women and children, a ray of hope emerged with the signing of the peace agreement at the Sharm-El-Sheikh Peace Summit between Egypt, Qatar, Turkiye and the United States,” he said.

Pakistan, he said, reaffirms its full support and solidarity with the Palestinian people, and will continue to stand with them at every stage. “We hope that the momentum generated by the ongoing peace efforts will help achieve these objectives, and call on the international community to uphold its obligations in this regard.”

Underlining Pakistan’s position on some key elements related to today’s resolution, he said that the existing Security Council resolutions on Palestine remain fully valid, and “shall not alter or diminish them; the right to self-determination is inherent and unconditional; the Palestinian Authority’s role is absolutely central in this process; ISF could truly be stabilizing if guided by a clear peacekeeping mandate consistent with UN norms; disarmament should take place through an agreed political process negotiated under a unified Palestinian National Authority; and, no annexation or forced displacement.

“Finally,” the Pakistani envoy underscored that in order to break the cycle of violence, “it is absolutely necessary to end the occupation, and to have a political horizon, open the pathway to the Palestinian State through a credible, time-bound political process firmly anchored in the relevant UN resolutions.”

“Durable peace and stability in the region will come only with the establishment of the Palestinian State as part of the two-State solution”.

The central roles of the United Nations, the Palestinian Authority, and the Palestinian people are vital in ensuring legitimate governance, reconstruction, and institution building in Gaza, the Pakistani envoy said.

Reiterating that Pakistan stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the people of Palestine, he said, “Their suffering is our anguish; their resilience is our pride; their aspirations our cause. The people of Gaza had endured what no human beings should ever face. Yet they have proudly and boldly upheld their dignity, identity and hope.

“Their courage obliges us to act with moral clarity and sustained political commitment. Pakistan reaffirms that we will continue to support the Palestinian struggle and their right to self-determination.”