The International Stabilization Force (ISF) could be sent to the Gaza Strip as early as next month, as part of the second phase of US President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan.
Although several countries have expressed interest in joining the ISF, concerns remain over the force’s mandate and how it will demilitarize the Gaza Strip and disarm Hamas.
ISF Deployment
The ISF could be deployed to Gaza by January 2026, Reuters reported citing two US officials. The officials added that several countries expressed readiness to contribute to the international force.
Meanwhile, US officials are finalizing key details for the ISF, including its size, composition, training, housing, and rules of engagement.
In the light of this, the US Central Command (US CENTCOM) will host a conference in the Qatari capital, Doha, on December 16 to work out the final details of the ISF, the officials added.
The conference is expected to see the participation of over 25 partner countries to discuss the force’s command structure and other issues.
Second Phase of Gaza Deal
The ISF deployment will take place in the second phase of Trump’s peace plan, during which the Israeli troops will withdraw further to a designated Red Line “based on standards, milestones, and timeframes linked to demilitarization.”
In November 2025, the UN Security Council (UNSC) adopted a US-drafted resolution which endorses President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan for Gaza.
It authorizes the formation and immediate deployment of the ISF, which will work with Israel, Egypt and newly trained Palestinian police to help maintain security and demilitarize the Gaza Strip.
The Trump administration is considering an American two-star general to lead the force, although no decision has been made, sources said. Axios reporter, Barak Ravid, said that Maj. Gen. Jasper Jeffers, special operations commander for CENTCOM, is a strong candidate for the role.
The ISF will deploy after the formation of the Gaza Board of Peace, which Trump said he will announce its members early next year.
“There is a lot of quiet planning that’s going on behind the scenes right now for phase two of the peace deal. We want to ensure an enduring and lasting peace,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Thursday.
ISF Participating Countries
Earlier, the US said that many countries have shown interest in contributing troops the ISF, including Qatar, Egypt, Türkiye, Indonesia, Azerbaijan and Pakistan, but they asked for a UN mandate for the force.
In this context, Indonesia said it is ready to deploy up to 20,000 troops to Gaza to handle tasks related to health and construction. “It is still in the planning and preparation stages. We are now preparing the organizational structure of the forces to be deployed,” spokesperson of Indonesian Defense Ministry, Rico Sirait, said.
Meanwhile, the US recently sent a briefing to European diplomats warning them that if their countries declined to contribute troops to the ISF or support the countries that do, the Israeli military will not withdraw from the areas of Gaza it still occupies, according to Axios.
ISF Mandate in Gaza
Under Trump’s plan, “all military, terror, and offensive infrastructure, including tunnels and weapon production facilities, will be destroyed and not rebuilt. There will be a process of demilitarization of Gaza under the supervision of independent monitors.”
Furthermore, the ISF will “train and provide support to vetted Palestinian police forces in Gaza, and will consult with Jordan and Egypt who have extensive experience in this field.”
The force will be “the long-term internal security solution,” working to help secure border areas, along with newly trained Palestinian police forces, and prevent munitions from entering Gaza.
Disarming Hamas
Some countries, including the UAE and Jordan, have voiced concern over the lack of a clear framework for the force and the possibility of ending up fighting Palestinian elements.
On Thursday, the US Ambassador to the UN, Mike Waltz, said that the UNSC resolution authorized the ISF to demilitarize Gaza by all means necessary – which means use of force, adding that discussions on rules of engagement were ongoing with each country.
However, the US officials told Reuters that the ISF will not fight Hamas, and it remains unclear how the force will achieve its objectives in Gaza.
Hamas has maintained a firm position on disarmament, insisting it will not give up its weapons until the establishment of a Palestinian State. It also noted that there were no formal discussions on the issue with the mediators – the US, Egypt and Qatar.
On the other hand, the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said that the second phase of Trump’s plan would move toward Gaza demilitarization and Hamas disarmament.
