UN Peacekeeping Record Raises Questions About Trump Administration’s Gaza Proposal

U.S. Presents Draft Resolution to UN Security Council for Gaza Stabilization Force

The United States ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, has presented a draft resolution to partner nations that would authorize a two-year international security force in Gaza under UN oversight. The proposal represents a key component of President Donald Trump’s broader Gaza peace plan, according to a senior U.S. official.

Waltz recently held meetings with representatives from Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, who are expected to coordinate humanitarian and reconstruction efforts. The Palestinian Authority also participated in these discussions, marking a rare diplomatic engagement given Israel’s opposition to returning authority to the PA without significant reforms.

According to reports from Reuters and the Associated Press, the draft resolution would empower the mission to “use all necessary measures” to secure Gaza, protect civilians and begin demilitarizing armed groups once large-scale combat operations conclude. The plan includes forming a transitional “Board of Peace” that would coordinate with Egypt, Israel and a vetted Palestinian police force.

While Washington has ruled out sending U.S. combat troops to the region, it has approached several Muslim-majority nations about contributing forces, including Indonesia, Egypt, the UAE and Turkey. Israeli officials have already signaled they will not permit Turkish troops near their borders.

John Spencer, executive director of the Urban Warfare Institute, told Fox News Digital that the concept can succeed but only if it follows successful historical precedents. “For Gaza, I personally would like people to think Kosovo, not Lebanon,” Spencer said. “History shows exactly what determines success: a clear mandate, enough troops and the authority to act.”

The Kosovo model, considered one of the most successful peacekeeping operations, began after the 1999 NATO campaign when approximately 50,000 troops deployed under UN Security Council Resolution 1244. The Kosovo Force (KFOR) had a clear mission to stabilize the region, separate combatants and rebuild governance.

“Kosovo gives you the best example,” Spencer explained. “It had a clear disarmament mandate, a capable coalition and enough troops to enforce peace.” He cautioned that Gaza would require similar patience, noting that KFOR remains active decades later, albeit with reduced troop levels.

Bosnia represents another positive example where the 1995 Dayton Accords ended the war and authorized NATO-led forces. About 60,000 troops deployed with clear mandates for disarmament, separation of armies, and support for reconstruction efforts. “These were significant forces with clear mandates for disarming,” Spencer noted. “That’s what success looks like — a mission with both muscle and legitimacy.”

East Timor offers a third successful template, where an Australian-led mission entered under UN authority in 1999 following post-independence violence. The force quickly restored order and established groundwork for local governance. “East Timor shows how quickly you can start rebuilding governance when the force has legitimacy and local trust,” Spencer said.

By contrast, Spencer pointed to the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) as a cautionary tale. Established in 1978 and expanded after the 2006 war, UNIFIL has faced persistent criticism from Israel for allowing Hezbollah to strengthen its position in southern Lebanon. “They were glorified observers without a mandate to demilitarize anything,” Spencer said, emphasizing that Gaza’s mission must avoid this mistake.

For Gaza, Spencer described an “inkblot strategy” where stabilization forces would secure cleared districts while combat operations continue elsewhere. “You can create safe areas where a stabilization force, under the right mandate and equipped correctly, is stabilizing areas while you are also conducting operations against Hamas,” he explained.

Approximately 200 U.S. personnel are already on the ground in Israel, operating from a civil-military coordination center to manage logistics and planning for the proposed transition. This small presence will be vital for coordinating aid, reconstruction and stabilization efforts without direct combat involvement.

Spencer warned that the mission will inevitably face disinformation campaigns and attacks from groups opposed to peace. “There are people who do not want this to succeed,” he said. “Thinking through how they’ll try to undermine it — especially online — is vital.”

The stabilization effort must move in parallel with building local capacity, including training vetted Palestinian police forces and governance teams. “That’s how you build legitimacy,” Spencer concluded, seeing “a glimmer of hope” in newly established humanitarian zones inside cleared areas of Gaza during his recent visit to the region.