The UN Security Council voted on Monday in favour of a US-backed plan for Gaza that authorises an international stabilisation force and lays out what Washington calls a pathway towards an independent Palestinian state.

The resolution was adopted by 13 votes in favour and two abstentions, Russia and China.

The vote represented a pivotal moment for the current ceasefire and for the move to chart Gaza’s future after two years of war between Israel and Hamas.

Countries such as Egypt, Qatar, Jordan, Pakistan, Indonesia and Turkey have said their willingness to contribute troops to the 30,000-strong stabilisation force hinges on Security Council authorisation.

US envoy to the UN Mike Waltz who addressed the Council before the vote, called Gaza “hell on earth” where "hunger gnaws at the vulnerable, and hope flickers like a candle in a storm".

After the vote, he held up a copy of the text, describing it as “a lifeline.” He said the resolution marked “another significant step” towards a stable and prosperous Gaza and an environment in which Israel can live in security.

The resolution “is just the beginning", Mr Waltz added.

The plan includes a mandate for a transitional “board of peace”, led by US President Donald Trump, that will oversee the governing of Gaza until longer-term arrangements are established.

Mr Trump hailed the vote in a Truth Social post as "one of the biggest approvals in the history of the United Nations, [which] will lead to further peace all over the world, and is