Israel is pressing the United States to remove references to Palestinian statehood from a UN Security Council resolution on Gaza, set for a vote on Monday. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed Sunday his absolute opposition, warning that independence would reward Hamas and create a larger threat on Israel’s borders. The U.S. draft, part of President Donald Trump’s Gaza plan, now mentions a “credible pathway” to statehood after Palestinian Authority reforms, a clause Israel seeks to eliminate amid international pressure for flexibility.

The resolution proposes a two-year international stabilization force to secure and demilitarize Gaza, transitioning authority to the Palestinian Authority. Russia, China, and Arab states oppose it, arguing it imposes foreign control. Hamas and Palestinian factions rejected the plan Sunday, demanding UN-led forces without Israeli involvement and opposing Gaza’s demilitarization. Netanyahu insisted Hamas must be disarmed, stating it will occur “the easy way or the hard way.”

U.S. diplomats revised the text to address concerns from potential troop contributors like Indonesia and Turkey, adding stronger language on Palestinian self-determination. A rival Russian draft pushes explicit support for independence. Netanyahu dismissed all pressure, declaring Israel’s stance unchanged and rejecting foreign lectures. He criticized recent recognitions of Palestinian statehood by the UK, Australia, and Canada as prizes for terrorism.

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Violence escalated in the West Bank, with a 19-year-old Palestinian killed by Israeli fire near Nablus—the seventh death in two weeks—after allegedly throwing an explosive. Six teenagers were also killed in separate incidents. UN records show over 260 settler attacks in October, the highest since 2006. Netanyahu called it the work of a “small minority,” a claim disputed by rights groups.

Fighting continued in Gaza, with Israeli forces killing an infiltrator in the north. As the UN vote looms, Israel’s push to block statehood language highlights tensions with Washington and the global consensus favoring a two-state solution.

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