UNSC Begins Talks on US Proposal for Gaza Force as Questions Mount Over Governance Model

Human Rights Research Center
15 minutes ago
5 min read

November 7, 2025

HRRC urges the United Nations Security Council and its member states to recognize the voices of Palestinians in determining their futures and to prioritize the urgent need for humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip as winter approaches. Addressing this issue must remain central to any negotiation aimed at alleviating the crisis.

A leaked US draft resolution to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), which was sent to multiple UNSC member states on Monday, November 3rd, has proposed an overwhelmingly ambiguous plan lacking in specifics including its intended time frame, limitations on the use of force, and interim powers – for the next step of the US-brokered ceasefire framework in Gaza.

The resolution, which proposes to establish an International Stabilization Force (ISF), will be a “peace enforcement” rather than “peacekeeping” force, and will have a mandate in the Gaza strip for a recommended minimum of two years. Negotiations over the resolution will take place in the following days, with the US aiming to have a vote on it in two weeks on the UN Security Council, and to have troops deploying into the Gaza strip by January.

The ISF would be under the authority of a “Board of Peace,” of which US President Donald Trump has nominated himself to lead. This board will wield “the powers of a transitional governance administration” which will have responsibility over Gaza’s borders with Egypt and Israel, nations with which the ISF would closely consult and cooperate with. The ISF will also be in charge of the safety of civilians and humanitarian areas and training a new Palestinian police force.

The Board of Peace would also be responsible for the creation of a framework for the redevelopment of Gaza and coordinating funding for it from institutions including the World Bank and other financial institutions. The two-year mandate is only the minimum recommended by the US: the Board of Peace would stand down and allow the Palestinian Authority to fully administer Gaza only after it has carried out the full slate of reforms set by the Board and met its benchmarks.

Diplomats have warned that the force’s explicit non-peacekeeping mandate may deter states from contributing troops to the effort. In October, the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, remarked that many countries would choose not to participate without an “international mandate,” such as through a resolution by the UNSC.

Another contentious mandate within the leaked draft is the ISF’s charge to demilitarize the Gaza strip. This includes a destruction of any existing “military, terror, and offensive infrastructure” and the irreversible disarmament from non-state armed groups, including but not limited to Hamas, until the Board of Peace completes its functions.

The draft features a glaring lack of Palestinian involvement in Gaza’s future, breaking from the UN Security Council’s standard practice of requiring the consent from the local government for its mandate, according to legal scholars, as has occurred in previous conflicts such as Iraq, Libya, and East Timor.

The lack of consent and ambiguous wording risks delegitimizing the authority of the Board, since most of its mandates would require far-reaching transformative authority that is only permitted under international law with the Security Council’s explicit permission. Under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, the UN Security Council is provided the power to take actions to protect international peace and security. As the proposed draft instead declares the conflict a threat to “regional stability,” it may not reach the legally required threshold for Chapter VII, thus making its legal basis under international law contestable.

Meanwhile, Hamas and Arab countries, such as Jordan, have leaned towards maintaining a technocratic commission supervised by the Board—which would be in charge of day-to-day administration and civil service— connected to the Palestinian Authority. Experts have warned that, as in Iraq and Afghanistan, interventions carried out under Chapter VII without local involvement have often fallen short of achieving the lasting peace they sought to establish.

The UNSC will be negotiating in the following days with its members and potential nations that would contribute troops for the ISF. As conditions of the Gaza strip deteriorate, and the lack of the established minimum necessary aid being delivered aggravates the issues being brought by the coming of winter, the speed in which these negotiations conclude may represent the last chance for the international community to alleviate any further damage to the people of Gaza.

Glossary

Board of Peace - A proposed government body proposed by the US in their leaked resolution draft, that would be in charge of Gaza´s reconstruction, stability and administration.
Benchmarks - evaluate (something) by comparison with a standard.
Ceasefire - a temporary suspension of fighting; a truce.
Coercive - relating to or using force or threats.
Consent (in international law) - Formal agreement or approval from a territory’s sovereign authority to another state or external organization for them to intervene in said territory.
Demilitarize - remove or destroy all military forces from (an area).
Disarmament - the reduction or withdrawal of military forces and weapons.
Framework - a basic structure underlying a system, concept, or text.
Gaza Strip - A small and densely populated territory bordered by Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea, home to approximately 2 million Palestinians.
Humanitarian aid - the provision of material (such as food, medicine, shelter, and gas) and logistical support to people in need, especially during and after a crisis such as a natural disaster, conflict, or famine.
International Stabilization Force (ISF) - The US-proposed multinational military force to be deployed in the Gaza strip under the control of the US-led “Board of Peace.”
Mandate - an official order or commission to do something with authority.
Non-state armed groups - Armed organizations that are not part of a country's government and that use force to achieve their political, ideological, or economic objectives.
Palestinian Authority (PA) - the government body that exercises partial civil control over the Palestinian enclaves in the Israel-occupied West Bank as a result of the 1993–1995 Oslo Accords. It is run by the political party Fatah, which was also in power in Gaza until Hamas took control after the 2006 elections.
Peace enforcement - The application of a range of coercive measures, including the use of military force, requiring the explicit authorization of the Security Council. Used to restore international peace and security in situations where the Security Council has decided to act in the face of a threat to the peace, breach of the peace or act of aggression.
Peacekeeping - Active work to stop or prevent conflict between nations or communities, especially by an international military force.
Post-conflict plan - The strategy and framework to rebuild and govern a territory after a conflict which includes providing necessary services, restoring institutions and ensuring the stability of the area.
Resolution (UN) - a formal expression of the opinion or will of a UN organ, such as the General Assembly or Security Council
Statehood - the status of being a recognized independent nation by international law and organs.
Technocratic commission - A governing or administrative body made up of technical experts or professionals elected by their sovereign authority rather than elected officials.
Threshold - the magnitude or intensity that must be exceeded for a certain reaction, phenomenon, result, or condition to occur or be manifested.
Transitional governance - A temporary system of rule put in place during a period of significant political change, such as after a conflict, revolution, or collapse of a previous government.
UN Charter - The founding treaty of the United Nations, outlining its principles, powers, and the responsibilities of its member states.
UN Security Council (UNSC) - The main UN body responsible for maintaining international peace and security, with authority to issue binding resolutions.
World Bank - An international financial institution that provides loans and grants to countries for development and reconstruction projects.

References

HRRC accepts NO funding from governments for our research or campaigns. At every step of the way, our impact is made possible because of people like YOU. Make your contribution now!

UNSC Begins Talks on US Proposal for Gaza Force as Questions Mount Over Governance Model

Recent Posts