Amid New Hope in Gaza, Security Council Must Seize 'Fragile' Moment to Advance 20-Point Peace Plan, Chart Better Future for Israelis, Palestinians
Meetings Coverage
Security Council
10051st Meeting (AM)
SC/16231
24 November 2025
The Security Council met today to consider pathways for advancing to the second phase of implementing the "Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict", also known as the 20-point plan, announced by United States President Donald Trump in late September.
The Plan's first phase — agreed by Israel and Hamas — established the current ceasefire and outlined the release of remaining hostages in exchange for Palestinian detainees, a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and a significant scale-up of humanitarian assistance.
The second phase envisions disarming Hamas; further withdrawals of Israeli forces; the gradual transfer of security responsibilities to an International Stabilization Force; and the establishment of an interim technocratic government overseen by a Board of Peace chaired by Mr. Trump. Ultimately, the Board would transfer governance to a reformed Palestinian Authority, opening a pathway towards Palestinian self-determination and statehood.
On 17 November, the Council adopted resolution 2803 (2025), endorsing the Plan and authorizing a temporary International Stabilization Force in Gaza (see Press Release SC/16225).
In today's meeting, the representative of the United States said that the Plan outlines a pathway to peace, security and long-term governance in Gaza. "Now, the international community must move quickly to deny Hamas any chance to reconstitute," she urged, inviting those Member States ready to act through the Board of Peace to "step up" and pledge personnel, equipment and funding for the Force.
"Stability will require burden-sharing," she said. The Force will help create a Gaza free from terrorist rule and safe for aid and investment by protecting civilians. Emphasizing that humanitarian assistance has "surged since the peace plan took effect", she said that her country supports the delivery of aid to Gaza with "robust safeguards preventing diversion by Hamas and other groups". And, while humanitarian assistance will address Gaza's immediate needs, investment will revive its economy. To that end, she welcomed commitments by the World Bank and partner countries to invest in Gaza's long-term redevelopment.
Calls to Build on Ceasefire Momentum
"We must seize the opportunity before us to chart a better future for Palestinians, Israelis and the wider region," said Ramiz Alakbarov, Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, as he briefed the Council via video link from Jerusalem on the wider situation in the Middle East.
He recognized the commitments by the parties and the exceptional efforts of the mediators — Egypt, Qatar, Türkiye and the United States — in sustaining a ceasefire, describing resolution 2803 (2025) as "an important step in the consolidation of the ceasefire".
Since coming into effect last month, the ceasefire has largely held in Gaza, he reported. However, recent Israeli air strikes on populated areas and continued sporadic attacks by Palestinian militants on Israeli soldiers are jeopardizing the fragile truce, he added, urging all parties to exercise restraint and fulfil their commitments under the agreement.
For its part, the United Nations has redoubled efforts to mobilize and scale up humanitarian aid — seizing the moment to reach the population wherever they are, he said. He called on Israel to expand crossing capacity and expedite the clearance of supplies, including UN supplies. The renewal of non-governmental organizations' registration is also essential, he added.
Several Council members weighed in on the need to advance to the Plan's second phase. The representative of the United Kingdom said: "We need an International Stabilization Force and trained Palestinian police deployed quickly to support the ceasefire and avoid a vacuum that Hamas can exploit." His counterpart from France agreed that the rapid deployment of an International Stabilization Force, in support of the Palestinian Authority's security forces, is essential to prevent a resumption of violence, ensure the safety of humanitarian operations and advance the disarmament of Hamas. For its part, Paris will bolster Palestinian security capacities by deploying nearly 100 police officers and will contribute €100 million to the humanitarian response in 2025.
'Gaza is Palestinian,' says Permanent Observer, as Israel Demands Hamas Disarm
Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine, said that Palestine — along with the region and the wider international community — welcomed President Trump's plan to end the war. However, Israel seeks to collapse the ceasefire by stalling the entry of humanitarian aid, resuming attacks and entrenching the ceasefire boundary or advancing beyond it.
Against this backdrop, the Council adopted resolution 2803 (2025) primarily to maintain the ceasefire and move to its second phase of the 20-point plan, rather than to advance the rights of the Palestinian people, he said, adding: Yet even the resolution's simple reference to Palestinian self-determination and statehood "drove the Israeli Government crazy".
"Gaza is Palestinian... Gaza is the bleeding heart of Palestine, just as Jerusalem is its beating heart," he declared, calling for peace grounded in the fulfilment of Palestinian rights rather than their continued denial and based on mutual recognition rather than negation.
The representative of Israel stressed that his country is "fully committed to meeting our obligations under this Plan". It has facilitated hundreds of trucks entering Gaza each day and released Palestinian "terrorists — not prisoners — as required", he said.
"Hamas, on the other hand, continues to blatantly violate the terms of the Plan," he stressed, as it failed to meet the 72-hour deadline to return the hostages, killed three soldiers during the ceasefire and repeatedly sent terrorists across Israeli lines. "There can be no peace, no stability and no future for Gaza while Hamas remains armed," he asserted, pressing the international community to prioritize this issue.
The Occupied Palestinian Territory remains a "theatre of bloodshed", said Algeria's delegate, citing Israel's blatant violations of arrangements. He called for "genuine" commitment to preserve the ceasefire, launch reconstruction, ensure accountability for the "thousands of documented Israeli crimes", end the occupation and enable Palestinians to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination.
Timelines Needed for Israeli Withdrawal, Return of Palestinian Authority, Board of Peace Appointments
Several speakers pointed to ambiguity about the next steps. "When will the Palestinian Authority return to Gaza? When will Israel withdraw its troops from the Strip? How will Hamas be disarmed?" asked the representative of the Russian Federation, noting that resolution 2803 (2025) does not clarify these points. He stressed the need to establish clear timelines. Agreeing, his counterpart from Pakistan said: "Peace cannot be negotiated over the heads of the Palestinian people," calling for more clarity on various aspects of resolution 2803 (2025).
The representative of Sierra Leone, Council President for November, speaking in his national capacity, said that the Board of Peace has not been appointed despite the urgency of the situation. Its terms of reference are unknown and Palestinian participation is unclear, leaving a serious gap in governance and oversight of the transitional arrangements, he warned.
Despite these shortcomings, resolution 2803 (2025) "opens a real window of opportunity towards a path that is different from what has been experienced by the peoples of Israel and Palestine", said Panama's delegate. The challenge lies not only in maintaining the ceasefire, but in "transforming a fragile moment into an historic turning point for peace", he said.
The representative of Somalia reaffirmed the importance of initiating mechanisms authorized through resolution 2803 (2025). Adhering to resolutions, he said, is a cornerstone for achieving a comprehensive and just settlement that ends the suffering of the Palestinian people and paves the way for a political path towards reconstruction, peace and security in the region.
The situation in the West Bank was also raised. Slovenia's delegate condemned rising settler violence and urged that the ceasefire extend to the West Bank, where violence against Palestinians is rapidly spreading. The representative of Denmark described recent developments as "devastating" and warned that they could signal a fire threatening the prospects for peace. She urged the Council to send a clear message that "Gaza and the West Bank are not two stories, but one".
Gaza's Dire Humanitarian Needs Demand Urgent Lifting of Aid Restrictions
Several delegates underscored the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, with the representative of Guyana expressing concern that "Palestinians' legitimate expectation for relief from hostilities in Gaza and for a surge in humanitarian assistance has not been fully met". Nutrition needs are also not being fully met. "With the plethora of needs in Gaza, it is critical for Israel to lift all remaining restrictions on the entry of a diversity of humanitarian assistance into Gaza," she said.
China's delegate said peace between Palestine and Israel is "far from being achieved" and urged the international community to "work harder" towards stability in the region. The speaker for Greece said Mr. Trump's plan — now supported by a Council resolution — provides strong momentum for accelerated regional integration and the creation of an inclusive regional security architecture. Looking ahead, the representative of the Republic of Korea summarized: "As new hope arises in Gaza, we must seize this opportunity to change the course regionally; from confrontation to harmony, and from a one-State reality to the realization of the two-State solution."
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