Israel ramps up last-minute pressure ahead of UN Security Council vote on Gaza force

Israel is applying last-minute pressure to influence the outcome of Monday's UN Security Council vote on a US-drafted resolution that would establish an international force tasked with security and reconstruction in the Gaza Strip, which has been devastated by Israel's relentless onslaught.

Under the plan, the Israeli army would withdraw to a buffer zone near the border as part of a broader process to dismantle Hamas's military capabilities.

According to Israel's Channel 12, Israel is pushing for the multinational force to be "effective", with executive powers, a clear mandate to enforce discipline against what it calls "Hamas violations", the authority to use force when necessary to disarm the group, and mechanisms for direct coordination with the Israeli army.

While the powers of the force are laid out in the text up for vote, the channel quoted Israeli sources as saying Israel's demands "go beyond what is written in the current draft".

Channel 12 reported that bases hosting thousands of foreign soldiers were expected to be established in the so-called Gaza envelope area, with operations beginning in early 2026.

The mission would last at least two years, subject to UN decisions, with the possibility of extensions depending on progress on the ground.

Despite this, Israeli officials remain pessimistic about the force's chances of success. Security officials have warned that its deployment could complicate Israeli military activity inside Gaza and limit its operational freedom if Hamas carries out attacks or fires rockets.

According to the US draft, the mandate and objectives of the force are meant to stabilise Gaza’s security environment, disarm armed groups including Hamas and other factions, destroy weapons stockpiles and prevent their reconstruction, protect civilians, support humanitarian efforts, and stop the diversion or theft of aid by armed groups. The force would also help secure Gaza's borders with Israel and Egypt to prevent arms smuggling.

The multinational force would also be responsible for training and supporting a new Palestinian police force whose members would undergo vetting and security screening. This police force would become Gaza's primary security body after the Israeli military withdraws, and Hamas was removed from the scene.

Channel 12 reported that the international force would fill the security vacuum until authority is transferred to a "Peace Council", a transitional international body that would run Gaza.

The council is defined as an "enforcement body" rather than a traditional peacekeeping mission, giving it a mandate to use "all necessary means" to carry out its tasks.

The channel said the draft resolution remains open to amendments as negotiations continue among Security Council members.

Under the proposal, the multinational force would help secure the Gaza border with Israel and Egypt and operate in coordination with both sides under the oversight of the Peace Council.

For Washington, the vote is a critical step in its "day after" roadmap for Gaza, which the US sees as essential to paving the way for normalisation between Israel and additional Arab and Muslim countries.

But the proposal still faces obstacles from Russia, China, and several Arab states that have called for the removal of the Peace Council from the US plan, arguing that it would sideline Palestinians during the transition period.