On Monday, 18 November 2025, the UN Security Council passed a US-sponsored resolution that backs US President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan for ending Israel’s war on Gaza. In theory, this security body will work with Israel and Egypt to “demilitarise” the Gaza Strip and will reportedly train a Palestinian police force. It was passed with a 13-0 vote. But Russia and China abstained, expressing concern over the lack of Palestinian participation in the force and the lack of a clear role for the UN in the future of Gaza. Hamas rejected the resolution, saying the vote “imposes an international guardianship mechanism on the Gaza Strip”. Under Trump’s plan, Hamas would have no role in Gaza and would be disarmed, with its personnel offered two options: either commit to coexistence or be granted safe passage out of Gaza. Hamas has repeatedly said it would give up governance but is not willing to give up its arms.

For his part, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said recently that the war “has not ended” and that Hamas would be disarmed. In Israel, the resolution led at least one opposition party to lambast Netanyahu’s government. “What happened tonight at the UN is a result of the Israeli government’s failed conduct,” Avigdor Lieberman, an ultra-nationalist politician who leads the Yisrael Beytenu party, wrote on X. “The decision led to a Palestinian state, a Saudi nuclear [programme] and F-35 planes for Turkey and Saudi Arabia.”

Dar reiterates govt’s........

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