New York, United States – Somalia has joined the majority of UN Security Council members in supporting a U.S.-drafted resolution endorsing former President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan and calling for the establishment of an international stabilization force. The vote, which secured 13 approvals and saw Russia and China abstain, has immediately stirred diplomatic ripples across regions already strained by conflict and competing geopolitical interests.
For Somalia, casting its vote in favor reflects a calculated decision shaped by its long-standing strategic relationship with Washington, its desire to be seen as a constructive global actor, and its own experience navigating fragile peace and international peacekeeping arrangements. Officials in Mogadishu, familiar with the human cost of prolonged instability, viewed the proposal for a stabilization force as an opportunity to support a structured path away from violence in Gaza, even as the broader plan remains steeped in controversy.
The resolution’s incorporation of language alluding to the possibility of future Palestinian statehood was one of the more debated aspects before the vote. While the phrasing was deliberately measured, it was enough to trigger renewed debate inside Israel’s political establishment. There, leaders remain sharply divided over any framework that touches on statehood, security boundaries, or external oversight in Gaza. The political temperature rose almost instantly after the resolution passed, widening the rift between factions that see the plan as a pragmatic step toward stability and those who consider it a threat to Israel’s long-term security posture.
Among UN members, reactions were a patchwork of support, caution, and strategic silence. Russia and China’s abstentions underscored the ongoing power struggles within the Council and the competing visions for how the Middle East’s conflicts should be resolved. Their reluctance to back the resolution signaled continued mistrust of U.S.-driven peace proposals and lingering unease over how the stabilization force would operate on the ground.
Despite the divisions, the vote marked a significant moment in the international community’s ongoing attempts to address one of the world’s most protracted conflicts. For Somalia, the decision was more than a diplomatic gesture. It was a reflection of its aspirations to engage more actively in global peace and security efforts—an increasingly visible shift as the country consolidates internal reforms and strengthens its foreign policy voice.
Whether the resolution can survive the region’s entrenched political disputes or translate into meaningful stability remains uncertain. But the vote has set the stage for a new chapter of international involvement in Gaza—one shaped as much by the ambitions of global powers as by the aspirations of a population yearning for an end to decades of turmoil.