Hamas delivered a defiant message on Monday, declaring it “will not disarm” just moments after the UN Security Council adopted a resolution mandating the demilitarization of Gaza. The US-drafted resolution, which passed despite Russian and Chinese abstentions, authorizes an “international stabilization force” (ISF) to enter the enclave and “decommission weapons.” Hamas’s rejection turns this new UN mandate into an immediate flashpoint for conflict.
In its statement, Hamas called the resolution an “international guardianship mechanism” that its “people and their factions reject.” The group’s insistence on continuing its “legitimate resistance” is a direct challenge to the ISF’s core mission and to the broader 20-point plan from President Donald Trump, which the resolution endorses.
The US, which has been pushing the plan, celebrated the vote. Ambassador Mike Waltz told the council the resolution “dismantles Hamas’ grip” and creates a “prosperous and secure” Gaza. President Trump, who will chair a new “Board of Peace” for reconstruction, called the vote “historic.” The resolution’s passage is seen as crucial for recruiting countries to contribute troops to the ISF.
However, the lack of support from Russia and China casts a shadow. Both powers abstained, complaining that the UN was being sidelined. Russian Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya warned that the council was ceding “complete control” to a US-led initiative “the modalities of which we know nothing about.”
The plan has also divided Palestinian factions and created friction in Israel. The Palestinian Authority welcomed the resolution, a move diplomats said was vital to preventing a Russian veto. But the plan’s reference to a “pathway to… statehood” has been publicly opposed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, highlighting the extreme difficulty of implementing a plan that is already being defied by the main group it targets.