The United States has circulated a draft resolution to the UN Security Council proposing the establishment of an international force in the Gaza Strip, under the claim of “preparing post-war conditions and ending the conflict”. However, an examination of the leaked preliminary text reveals a grave threat to Palestinian sovereignty and the right to self-determination, effectively transforming Gaza into a zone managed by external powers rather than by its own people.
The draft grants Israel a defined role in coordinating the work of the international force and ensuring security. This represents a dangerous shift that provides the occupation with an official international cover. Any civil or humanitarian arrangements would become tied to Israel’s approval, placing Palestinians under constant pressure and turning reconstruction into a political and security leverage tool instead of a means to empower the population. The resolution prioritises security, border control, crossings, and combating “threats”, while overlooking the fundamental rights of Palestinians. Any future Palestinian civil or political activity could be categorised as a security threat, endangering freedom of movement, civil work, education, and various essential sectors under the pretext of security concerns.
At the same time, the draft describes the international force’s supervision of Gaza as transitional and temporary, opening the door to the establishment of a parallel administration outside Palestinian legitimacy and placing Palestinians in a secondary position in managing the Strip. This neglect of legitimate authority threatens Palestinian unity and undermines any prospects for future political solutions. Added to this is the regional and international dimension of the project, which would turn Gaza into a field of American-Israeli influence, with weak Arab participation and a shrinking space for meaningful Palestinian impact.
Urgent Action
Time is rapidly running out. Palestinians are called upon to act immediately through three core tracks:
Internal Unity
The Palestinian Authority, factions, and civil society must issue a unified national position document that clearly outlines acceptable and unacceptable provisions, affirming the necessity of full or joint Palestinian oversight over civil administration and reconstruction.
Regional and International Pressure
There is a need to invest in the role of Arab and non-Arab states willing to participate in the international force and to pressure Security Council members to amend any articles threatening Palestinian sovereignty. Mechanisms must be imposed to monitor the work of the international force and to ensure periodic review of its mandate.
Establishing Red Lines to Protect Palestinian Legitimacy
This applies to both official institutions and national factions and includes:
- Preventing the formation of any parallel administration outside the framework of Palestinian legitimacy.
- Limiting Israeli influence over the work of the international force.
- Protecting the basic rights of the population: self-determination, freedom of movement, education, healthcare, essential services, and the mandate of UNRWA.
- Affirming the temporary nature of any international administration, with an independent oversight mechanism that includes Palestinian and international experts.
Conclusion
Gaza is not merely a conflict zone; it is the heart of the Palestinian cause. If the Palestinian Authority, factions, and civil society do not act swiftly, the American draft resolution may transform the international force from a humanitarian solution into a tool to entrench control, enforce exclusion, and threaten fundamental Palestinian rights. Palestinians, Arabs, and the international community must move now, before Gaza becomes just another page in a draft resolution that erases Palestinian sovereignty and the rights of its people.
