Trusteeship of Strategic Areas: A Roadmap Toward a Palestinian State
A decades-old and nearly forgotten UN resolution may provide a fresh pathway toward resolving one of the world’s most enduring conflicts. Resolution 21 [S/318], ratified on April 2, 1947, designated certain territories as “strategic areas” to be temporarily administered under trusteeship. This framework, once applied to Pacific Islands after World War II, is now being reexamined as a potential model for the creation of a Palestinian state.
A Historical Framework Revisited
The Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (TTPI) was established in 1947 and administered by the United States for nearly half a century. Under UN oversight, the arrangement fostered governance, economic development, and eventual independence for multiple island states. Applying this model to Gaza and the West Bank could create a structured, time-bound transition toward Palestinian statehood.
The Proposal
The plan calls for the United States to act as a temporary administrator of Gaza and the West Bank for a five-year period, under a UN trusteeship mandate. Backed by Arab donors and the European Union, this administration would:
Rehabilitate infrastructure and institutions in Gaza and the West Bank.
Establish democratic, secular, and civil governance frameworks.
Build educational and administrative systems based on constitutional models such as Germany’s Grundgesetz.
Prepare the way for a free, demilitarized, and secure Palestinian state along pre-1967 borders with minor territorial exchanges.
Challenges and Reactions
President Trump’s February 2025 remarks about “owning Gaza” raised skepticism across the Arab world. Yet, if reframed within Resolution 21 [S/318], such proposals could be transformed into a UN-sanctioned, internationally coordinated effort.
Israel’s leadership is expected to resist this model, particularly given the call to dismantle outposts and restrict extremist groups. Still, the proposal envisions negotiated territorial adjustments, allowing Israel to retain large urban blocs while ensuring Palestinians achieve statehood.
Lessons from History
Just as the Marshall Plan rebuilt postwar Europe, a global effort could rebuild Gaza and the West Bank. The TTPI precedent demonstrates how trusteeship can balance temporary external administration with long-term self-determination.
The envisioned Palestinian constitution would enshrine secularism, separation of powers, and individual rights, countering extremist ideologies and fostering stability. Such a framework could not only inspire governance in Palestine but also influence democratic practices in Israel.
A Global Priority
The urgency of this proposal lies in preventing further cycles of war and isolation. With international sanctions looming, Israel risks deeper isolation similar to that once faced by South Africa under apartheid. A UN trusteeship model, led by the U.S. and backed by strategic allies, could avert escalation and create a viable two-state future.
The idea is bold, controversial, and far from guaranteed. Yet, revisiting the “forgotten” Resolution 21 [S/318] offers a structured, historical roadmap to finally establish a Palestinian state—democratic, secure, and peaceful—living side by side with Israel. For a region long plagued by conflict, trusteeship may be the bridge to a just resolution.