Israel backs Gaza stabilization force, but there’s a catch
Photo: Israeli army (Getty Images)
Israel's Security Cabinet has approved the deployment of international stabilization forces to the Gaza Strip as part of the proposed peace plan of US President Donald Trump. The contingent is to operate in areas of the enclave that are not under Israeli military control and to coordinate its actions with the Israeli army, according to Al Jazeera.
The future contingent may include around 200 military personnel from so-called friendly countries, including Uganda and Morocco. At the same time, the final timeline for the mission's deployment has not yet been announced.
Israel has also determined that it will have the right to approve the countries that may send their military personnel to the force.
Part of the broader plan for the future of Gaza
International stabilization forces are one element of the proposed plan for the future of the Gaza Strip.
The document also provides for the creation of an international Board of Peace to oversee governance and reconstruction issues, as well as the formation of a technocratic body – the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG).
Other provisions of the plan include the disarmament of Hamas and the gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops from the sector.
Situation after the ceasefire
Despite reaching ceasefire agreements between Israel and Hamas, the parties continue to accuse each other of violations.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported the deaths of over a thousand people after the agreement came into effect, and thousands of wounded. These figures cannot be independently verified by all parties to the conflict.
Reaction to the creation of the mission
The director-general of the Gaza Board of Peace, Nickolay Mladenov, supported the decision to create an international contingent.
He stated that the deployment of forces is an important part of the Gaza stabilization system, supporting demilitarization and the transition to an interim Palestinian administration within the framework of the NCAG.
At the same time, a number of Western countries had previously not expressed readiness to join the proposed Board of Peace. The Israeli government's decision was made on the eve of the planned visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Washington.
Context of the news
The idea of deploying international stabilization forces is part of the broader US plan for the future of the Gaza Strip after the end of hostilities. The document provides for the creation of an international governance mechanism, a transitional body for Gaza, and measures for the demilitarization of Hamas.
We also reported on how Israel and Hamas militants agreed to Donald Trump's peace plan and even began to implement it.
