THE UN Security Council’s endorsement of the US-drafted resolution on Gaza has drawn divided views. These reactions are neither surprising nor unjustified. Hamas and several states have warned that the plan lacks what is ultimately indispensable: a clear, credible and time-bound path to an independent, sovereign and contiguous Palestinian State.
Without an articulated political horizon, mechanisms such as the “Board of Peace,” the International Stabilization Force (ISF) or transitional administrative arrangements remain stopgaps- tools that may stabilize the ashes of war but cannot extinguish the embers of conflict. Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UN Asim Iftikhar Ahmad captured this contradiction well. While commending the efforts to end the bloodshed and preserve a fragile ceasefire, he underlined that any transitional body must not dilute Palestinian governance or sideline the quest for statehood. His message echoed a broader international sentiment: reconstruction without sovereignty is neither sustainable nor just. Indeed, the resolution authorizes a security stabilization force and outlines supervision over Gaza’s reconstruction until 2027, but it leaves unanswered the fundamental question what comes next? How do these temporary structures translate into permanent political rights for Palestinians? How will Gaza’s future be linked to the broader two-state framework repeatedly endorsed by the UN? Until these questions are addressed, skepticism will persist. Moreover, the plan’s success hinges on Israel’s full respect for the ceasefire and its complete withdrawal from Gaza. Without strict adherence, any reconstruction effort no matter how well-funded will falter. Donors will hesitate, infrastructure will remain vulnerable and Palestinian suffering will only deepen. Thus, while financial assistance and urgent reconstruction must move forward with speed and determination, they must not overshadow the political imperative. Stability cannot be engineered solely through international forces or administrative boards. It requires addressing the root of the conflict: ending occupation and ensuring the Palestinians’ right to a homeland where they can live in dignity and honour. The ultimate aim must remain unwavering- a sovereign, independent and contiguous Palestinian state. Without this, any peace initiative, however well intentioned, risks becoming yet another temporary ceasefire rather than a lasting solution.
