The Triumph of the Transactional: UN Security Council Endorses U.S. Drafted UN Security Council Resolution on the Situation in the "Middle East"

 

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It appears that the United States has at least temporarily out maneuvered the Russian and and Chinese in developing a framework for the temporary establishment of a cessation of hostilities in Gaza under the framework of a state of some sort for Palestinians, one which presumably would be and remain Jew free. 

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The UN Security Council adopted a resolution on Monday that endorses a peace plan for Gaza put forward by United States President Donald Trump and a temporary international force in the enclave following two years of war. Resolution 2803 (2025) received 13 votes in favour, and none against, with 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. The 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”. Countries will contribute personnel to the force “in close consultation and cooperation” with Egypt and Israel.  (UN Security Council authorizes temporary international force for Gaza ).

"The text, which was revised several times as a result of high-stakes negotiations, "endorses" the US president's plan, which allowed for a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas to take hold on October 10 in the war-wracked Palestinian territory." (Le Monde) For my commentary on the United States Plan see  (1) America First as a Template for the Global: Text of the U.S. Cease-Fire Plan for Gaza; (2) America First--Text of President Trump's Address to the Israeli Knesset in Jerusalem - October 13, 2025; (3) "The Trump Declaration for Enduring Peace and Prosperity" Dialogical Reflections on the Tractability of the Intractable. The endorsement represents a triumph of the transactional elements of the United States in its new era of historical development, one that embraces the cognitive qualities of the "merchant" and dismisses the older narratives of the "official" in framing  a ceasefire where the cognitive divide between the parties remains vibrant and unbridgeable ("They Shoot Horses Don't They?". . . . The "Jewish Problem" in "Palestine" as Performed by the State Inmates of that Asylum of Politics).

 And, indeed, one sees in the differences between the American position (successful this time around) and that of the Chinese and Russians the disjuncture between merchant and functionary approachs (generally here: The "Merchant" (商), the "Bureaucrat" (士) and the "Tariff War"--The Cognitive Cages of the New Apex Post-Global and the Condition of the U.S. and China in their Folie à Deux). This was nicely captured in reporting by Stefano Vaccara (Security Council Approves US Resolution for International Force in Gaza:  Trump's plan passes: Resolution 2803 for the stabilization force (ISF) receives 13 votes in favor; Russia and China abstain without vetoes):

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 Russia abstained, warning that the plan risks undermining the prospect of “two peoples, two states” and gives the international force powers of “peace enforcement” that would turn it into a party to the conflict, despite the fact that, as Moscow pointed out, none of the potential contributing countries has said it is willing to take on such a mandate. The Russian delegation also denounced the danger that the resolution could become a cover for political-military “experiments” conducted by the United States and Israel in the Occupied Territories, citing previous initiatives by Washington that, in its view, ended with results opposite to those declared.

China justified its abstention by denouncing the text as “vague” on the structure and powers of the Peace Council and the International Stabilization Force, arguing that the resolution offers “too little visibility to the Palestinians” and does not sufficiently reaffirm either Palestinian sovereignty or the two-state principle. Beijing also criticized the negotiation process as “hasty and lacking in consultation” and contested the limited role envisaged for the United Nations.

Pix Credit here (Cyrus)

And one sees in the triumph of the "merchant" transactional framework the essence of the America First approach--one that builds transactional relationships and approaches issues from the centering perspective of the United States then connected to the welfare of those with whom the Americans deal.  "This will not be a traditional UN mission: it is an autonomous multinational force, composed of military contingents provided by countries that will have to accept a common chain of command. According to media reports, cited among others by the New York Times, countries such as Egypt, Indonesia, Qatar, Turkey, and Azerbaijan have already expressed preliminary willingness, but only in the face of clear authorization from the Council, which has now been given." (Security Council Approves US Resolution for International Force in Gaza). And the leadership of this effort falls squarely to the Americans , operationalized through its relationships with its partners in MENA. That these partners are a boisterous bunch is irrelevant--it is the coalescing around the transaction, and the hopes of its mutual benefit that produces the AmericaFirst variation of the Chinese Belt & Road win-win approach that has, to this point, driven the process forward--one transaction at a time.  BUt perhaps more importantly, the ceasefire that styles itself a peace is npt merely transactional but perhaps market managing as well, in the sense that it will manage the markets for violence that remain unresolved, the containment of which will give rise to further transactional enterprises as well as, at some point, to an attrition based resolution of the conflict. And as history reminds us in other circumstances, that "victory" will serve as the opening credits of the conflicts that await the next stage of the historical development of the region.  And for a region the conflicts of which extend back to the time of the pilgrimage from the Sumerian City of Ur (which the current Arabic speaking inhabitants know as Tell el-Muqayyar) suggests a general framework of iteration. 

The Remarks at the UN Security Council Stakeout Following the Adoption of a U.S. Drafted UN Security Council Resolution on the Situation in the Middle East both follows below.

 

 

Explanation of Position Before the Vote on a U.S. Drafted UN Security Council Resolution on the Situation in the Middle East

By United States Mission to the United Nations

6 MINUTE READ

November 17, 2025

Ambassador Mike Waltz
U.S. Representative to the United Nations
New York, New York

AS DELIVERED

Thank you, Mr. President.

Colleagues, for two agonizing years, Gaza—home to over two million souls—has been a crucible of conflict, a hell on earth, where Hamas’ brutality and terror met Israel’s fierce response, leaving rubble where schools once stood and graves where playgrounds thrived. The death toll climbs into the tens of thousands, hunger gnaws at the vulnerable, and hope flickers like a candle in a storm. But colleagues, here today—November 17th—we stand at a crossroads. Today, we have the power to douse the flames and light a path to peace.

That path is the draft United Nations Security Council resolution before us—a bold, pragmatic blueprint born from President Trump’s 20-point Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict, forged in the fires of diplomacy with Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE, [Jordan], Türkiye, Pakistan, and Indonesia. Those countries stood with President Trump—right back here in this very chamber, right in this room. They stood with him during the UN General Assembly High Level Week just eight weeks ago and they have now publicly stood for this resolution. Over a dozen European heads of state, including the EU, the Secretary-General, and Mahmoud Abbas stood with President Trump then at Sharm El-Sheikh after he presented his plan to the Israeli Knesset. So colleagues I ask you before this vote: with this kind of support, I ask you if the region most affected, the Arab nations, the Muslim majority nations, the Palestinians, and the Israelis can accept this resolution, how could anyone be against it? There is an old saying where I come from: “you can’t be more Catholic than the Pope.” And I ask everyone today, are you more righteous in this cause than those who must live with it and will ultimately benefit from this plan for peace?

This resolution, colleagues, is no mere paper promise; it’s a lifeline. The resolution endorses a hard-won ceasefire. And I thank Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. I thank my dear friend Jared Kushner who forged what so many people said was impossible. The living hostages released. There is still more absolutely to go with families suffering, but we have a ceasefire that is holding. Their plan has already silenced the guns and freed 45 hostages in this fragile, fragile first step. And let me be clear—the United States remains committed to ensuring that the remains of the last three hostages held by Hamas must come home.

The resolution authorizes the International Stabilization Force—a strong coalition of peacekeepers, many from Muslim-majority nations like Indonesia, Azerbaijan, and others—to deploy under a unified command. These brave souls will secure Gaza’s streets, they will oversee demilitarization, they will protect civilians, and they will escort aid through safe corridors, all while Israel phases out its presence and a vetted Palestinian police force takes on a new role.

At the heart of this plan, colleagues. lies the Board of Peace, a transitional administration with an international, coordinating reconstruction financing from a dedicated trust fund—backed by the World Bank itself—to rebuild shattered lives. Homes, hospitals, schools—that’s what we will see with this resolution. Not talking points, but actual deliverables. And crucially, per the carefully negotiated language in the 20 Point Plan, this resolution charts a possible pathway for Palestinian self-determination, after the Palestinian Authority has completed the necessary reforms, where rockets will give way to olive branches and there is a chance to agree on a political horizon. It dismantles Hamas’ grip, it ensures Gaza rises free from terror’s shadow, prosperous and secure.

Now colleagues, we hear critics whispering of challenges—Russia has had a counter-draft, we hear concerns over mandates—but, colleagues, hesitation here is the true enemy. We’ve seen ceasefires crumble before; we cannot repeat the definition of insanity here by doing the same thing that was done before. And by returning to the same frameworks and same talking points that will doom us to repeat this horror all over again. Delaying will cost lives: and every day without this force, aid trucks lie idle, children starve, and extremists regroup to try and maintain control. So colleagues, voting yes today isn’t just endorsing a plan; it’s affirming our shared humanity. It’s telling Gaza’s and Israel’s mothers that the world has not forgotten them.

Adopting this resolution today will prove the United Nations can still be a beacon, and not just a bystander.

Colleagues, the eyes of history—and humanity—are upon us—right here, right now. A vote against this resolution is a vote to return to war. Time is not on the side of peace. This is not the time for endless debate and lawyering. The clock is ticking, like a timebomb. So, let us vote for this resolution not as a compromise, but as a covenant. For the children of Gaza. And for peace that endures. And for a Middle East reborn.

Mr. President, I thank you.

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Remarks at the UN Security Council Stakeout Following the Adoption of a U.S. Drafted UN Security Council Resolution on the Situation in the Middle East

By United States Mission to the United Nations

6 MINUTE READ

November 17, 2025

Ambassador Mike Waltz
U.S. Representative to the United Nations
New York, New York

AS DELIVERED

Good evening, everyone, and thank you for joining us for what is truly a historic moment at the United Nations.

Today marks a turning point—not just for Gaza, not just for the Middle East, but for what international cooperation under President Trump’s leadership can achieve when we choose diplomacy over destruction, when we choose stability over suffering, and peace over perpetual conflict.

Today, the United Nations proved it can be great again.

The United Nations today proved it can be a beacon for peace, not just a bystander.

The United Nations Security Council has just adopted the United States sponsored resolution on Gaza that does something we haven’t seen in generations: it provides a real, actionable pathway to lasting peace for Palestinians and Israelis.

And I would encourage everyone around the world, and I would certainly encourage the media to read the entire resolution. Read the whole thing. It is truly a victory for everyone who believes in a future where the Palestinian people can determine their own destiny, and where they can have a future free of the grip of Hamas terrorists.

This is what the United Nations was created to do: to make pathways for real, tangible, and actionable peace.

So, let me be clear: this resolution, and the progress it represents, would not have been possible without President Trump’s bold leadership and his vision. Folks, just weeks ago, literally just weeks ago, the Middle East was mired in conflict. Hostages remained in tunnels, in captivity. Palestinians in Gaza suffered in a hell on earth as the war raged on.

Then President Trump secured a historic peace deal—with the critical support of Qatar, Egypt, and Türkiye. Hostages came home to their families, and we are still working to bring home the remaining three hostages who remain in Gaza. But we’ve also seen massive humanitarian aid began flowing into Gaza, an average of 660 trucks per day since the ceasefire. So, we saw the region in chaos just weeks ago. It took its first real step towards peace.

And today, the United Nations solidified that into international law. Today, the Security Council built on that foundation.

And I want to thank our partners and allies on the Council for their support, who stood with us in this moment. But particularly the support from our regional partners. From our Arab partners and the Muslim majority countries. It has been absolutely indispensable. I can’t overemphasize it.

The United States, Qatar, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Jordan, and Türkiye stood together in support of this resolution and President Trump’s plan. Then you have the endorsement from the gathering at Sharm el-Sheikh, where over 20 countries, over a dozen from Europe, including the European Union, supported this comprehensive approach, and demonstrated that the region is ready for change.

Folks, the region is tired of the same old talking points, the same old solutions that have never worked. The region is ready to break the cycle of violence. And what we saw here is once the Arabs, Muslim majority nations, the Palestinian Authority, and Israel indicated that we could move forward, with the plan laid forth in this resolution, we then turned to the Council and said: How could you stand against it?

So, what does the resolution actually do? I just want to take a moment to lay out a couple of key points:

First, the Security Council has endorsed President Trump’s historic 20-Point Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict;

It welcomes the establishment of the Board of Peace as a transitional administration for Gaza that will oversee and support a technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee, responsible for day-to-day government services;

It underscores the critical importance of humanitarian assistance for the people of Gaza;

And it authorizes an International Stabilization Force to stabilize the security environment in Gaza by ensuring the process of demilitarizing the Gaza Strip, including the destruction and prevention of rebuilding the military, terror, and offensive infrastructure. It also ensures the decommissioning from Hamas and its partners.

All of this will allow for a Gaza Strip that is finally free of Hamas’ terror and reign.

This resolution represents the first real step in generations towards forging a lasting peace for Gaza, for Palestinians, for Israelis, and for the entire region. And I want to be clear, the United States made it clear, President Trump, Secretary Rubio, my good friend Jared Kushner, Special Envoy Witkoff, we all made it clear that a vote against this resolution was a vote to return to war.

So, thanks to our actions here today, and President Trump’s bold, cleareyed leadership, a stable, a safe, and a prosperous future in the Middle East is now finally within reach.

Thank you.

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