The US is set to table a draft resolution on Gaza's future at the UN Security Council within hours, Israel Hayom has learned, in a move that significantly dilutes the resolution's previous text. The draft will be open for comments for 24 hours. The Americans aim to bring the resolution to a vote this coming Friday, or by next Monday at the latest.
In recent days, the US has introduced several changes to the draft based on feedback from the parties. Some changes benefit Israel, more strongly anchoring the commitment to disarm Hamas and demilitarize Gaza. Others, however, do not align with Israel's interests.
One of the most problematic changes is the removal of the sanction for removing international aid organizations that cooperate with terror. The original text of the resolution explicitly stated that "any organization found to have engaged in the misuse of such aid shall be deemed ineligible to provide ongoing or future assistance."
These words are missing from the new draft. In their place, it merely states the need "to ensure that such aid is used solely for peaceful purposes and is not diverted to armed groups." Critically, the sanction of suspending an organization whose employees were found aiding terror – as happened with UNRWA – has been eliminated.
On a more positive note, the revised text indicates that the IDF's withdrawal will be conditioned on full demilitarization and coordination with the US and Arab states. Per the new draft, the IDF's phased withdrawal from the Gaza Strip will only happen after agreed-upon standards for demilitarization and security are met. The text states the IDF will withdraw "in accordance with benchmarks and timetables to be determined jointly with the security forces, the guarantor states, and the United States," and that a limited Israeli security presence will remain to ensure terror does not return.
A new clause in the resolution mandates the international transition body (BoP) to submit a written report every six months to the Security Council detailing the progress of implementing Gaza's demilitarization on the ground. This step is intended to enhance transparency and oversight of the mechanism's work. Notably, a similar mechanism was supposed to operate for years in southern Lebanon through UNIFIL, but it failed to do its job.
Clause 7 of the draft resolution's new text includes direct coordination between the IDF, the Stabilization Force (ISF), Arab states, and the US. It stresses the international force's responsibility to prevent the restoration of terror infrastructure and ensure the Strip is demilitarized.
