World

Hamas rejects U.S.-backed UN resolution on Gaza, condemns international force

The group warned any international force operating in Gaza would be stripped of neutrality and become a party to the conflict

Updated 10 months ago · Published on 18 Nov 2025 10:35AM

Hamas rejects U.S.-backed UN resolution on Gaza, condemns international force
Gaza terror groups say disarmament violates ‘right to resistance,’ proposed international force a violation of Palestinian sovereignty - November 18, 2025

HAMAS has firmly opposed a United Nations Security Council resolution drafted by the United States that endorses President Donald Trump’s comprehensive Gaza plan, asserting that it violates Palestinian rights and attempts to impose an international trusteeship on the territory.

“Assigning the international force with tasks and roles inside the Gaza Strip, including disarming the resistance, strips it of its neutrality, and turns it into a party to the conflict in favour of the occupation,” Reuters cited the group as saying on Tuesday.

The resolution would establish a temporary International Stabilization Force (ISF) tasked with overseeing Gaza’s demilitarisation and a transitional administration under a Trump-chaired Board of Peace.

Hamas, alongside other factions in Gaza, described the proposal as “dangerous” and rejected any clause relating to disarmament or interference with “the Palestinian people’s right to resistance,” criticising what it called “an attempt to subject the Gaza Strip to international authority.”

The statement emphasised that any foreign military presence in Gaza would violate Palestinian sovereignty. “Any international force must be directly subordinate to the UN and work in coordination with the official Palestinian institutions, without the participation of the occupation,” The Times of Israel cited the group adding, referring to Israel.

Under the next phase of the Trump plan, Israel is expected to withdraw further from the so-called Yellow Line, the ISF is to assume security responsibilities from the Israeli military, Hamas is to be disarmed, and reconstruction efforts would commence.

Hamas has repeatedly refused to agree to demilitarisation, while Israel insists the Strip must be disarmed before the plan can advance.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his Cabinet on Sunday: “Either this will happen the easy way, or it will happen the hard way.”

Reports indicate that Hamas has begun stockpiling weapons abroad, with the intent of smuggling them back into Gaza.

The draft resolution, verified by The Times of Israel, mirrors Trump’s 20-point plan, also endorsed by Netanyahu in a joint press conference last September. It authorises UN member states to contribute to the ISF, with the board’s mandate extending to the end of 2027.

Objections against the resolution have been raised by Russia and China while the US has secured backing from Qatar, Egypt, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Jordan, and Turkiye.

Netanyahu, meanwhile, reaffirmed Israel’s opposition to Palestinian independence, asserting on Sunday: “I do not need affirmations, tweets or lectures from anyone.” - November 18, 2025

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