The US Central Command will host a conference in Doha on December 16 with partner nations to plan the International Stabilization Force (ISF) for Gaza, two US officials told Reuters on Friday, with more than 25 countries expected to send representatives to discuss the command structure and other related issues.
The conference will include sessions on the command structure and other issues related to the Gaza force, with an American two-star general tops the nominees to lead the ISF, though details remain undecided.
The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the ISF would not fight Hamas, adding that lots of countries had expressed interest in contributing and US officials are currently working out the size of the ISF, composition, housing, training, and rules of engagement.
Moreover, the deployment of the ISF is a key part of the next phase of US President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan. Under the first phase, a fragile ceasefire in the two-year-old war began on October 10 and Hamas has released hostages and Israel has freed detained Palestinians.
Ongoing Planning Efforts
“There is a lot of quiet planning that’s going on behind the scenes right now for phase two of the peace deal,” said White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt. “We want to ensure an enduring and lasting peace.”
Indonesia has indicated its readiness to deploy up to 20,000 troops for health and construction-related tasks in Gaza. “It is still in the planning and preparation stages,” said Rico Sirait, spokesperson of Indonesian Defense Ministry. “We are now preparing the organizational structure of the forces to be deployed.”
Consequently, the ISF will operate in areas controlled by Israel, as the plan requires. As the ISF establishes stability, Israeli troops will gradually withdraw based on specific standards and milestones linked to demilitarization.
UN Security Council Authorization
A UN Security Council resolution adopted on 17 November authorized the establishment of the ISF, mandating the force to work alongside newly trained Palestinian police to stabilize security. This includes ensuring the disarmament of the Gaza Strip and preventing the reconstruction of military infrastructure.
Additionally, US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz noted that the ISF has the authority to use force if necessary. “Obviously, that’ll be a conversation with each country,” he stated, adding that discussions on rules of engagement are ongoing.
Hamas has not formally discussed disarmament with mediators, maintaining that it will not disarm until the establishment of a Palestinian state. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the idea of a multinational task force, stating, “Now that raises a question: Our friends in America want to try and establish a multinational task force to do the job. I told them I welcome it. Are volunteers here? Be my guest,” acknowledging that some tasks may exceed the force’s capabilities.
