Uncertainty over Gaza security force continues after Doha meeting without Israel & Turkey

Following a U.S.-led summit in Qatar for discussions over the planned International Stabilization Force (ISF) for Gaza on Wednesday, without representation from Turkey or Israel, uncertainty over the countries that will participate in the force continued.

The meeting was hosted by the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) in Doha, and was attended by representatives from about 45 countries.

Meanwhile, despite a lack of progress on the ISF, U.S. officials reportedly said that it received commitments for representatives on the Board of Peace from Egypt, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Italy and Germany.

The Doha conference was intended to allay some of the concerns of potential partner countries, but the main concerns around the troops’ role in the disarmament of Hamas went unaddressed, two Arab diplomats told The Times of Israel.

Officials also told the outlet that the U.S. is telling countries that ISF troops will not at first be stationed in the Hamas-controlled half of Gaza, despite the UN Security Council resolution stating the ISF is meant to “ensure” the demilitarization of the enclave, which is also one of Israel’s main demands in regards to the force.

Instead, the U.S. wants the ISF to be deployed in the IDF-held 53% of Gaza and expects Hamas to eventually agree to a gradual process of disarmament.

Issues around the rules of engagement, armament guidelines, the exact location of the deployment and training bases were not resolved, per Ynet News.

According to the Times of Israel, CENTCOM presented five areas where countries can contribute to the ISF, including sending troops or law enforcement officers, logistical support, and providing training or funding.

At the moment, the U.S. is negotiating with 15 to 20 nations about possible support, Ynet said.

Several reports in recent days mentioned Indonesia, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Italy as prime candidates to contribute troops to the ISF.

However, there were contradictory reports about Italy, as it remains unclear whether, in addition to training, it intends to send police or even military forces as well.

Reuters also reported on Tuesday that the U.S. is pressuring Pakistan’s Field Marshal Asim Munir, who is due to visit Washington soon, to contribute troops to the ISF.

The U.S. is planning another conference in Washington around the second week of January and wants to solve the outstanding issues by then, according to the Times of Israel.

Israel continues to reject the involvement of Turkey in the post-war administration of Gaza, with an emphasis on the ISF, which is the main reason Turkey wasn’t invited to the Doha meeting.

However, an Israeli official told the Times of Israel that he expects American pressure to increase in order to at least receive a green light for Turkey to take part in the ISF command structure, or for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to join the Board of Peace.

The Times of Israel on Thursday cited four informed officials who said the U.S. had received commitments from the leaders of Egypt, Qatar, the UAE, the United Kingdom, Italy and Germany to participate on the Board of Peace under U.S. President Donald Trump’s leadership.

Israel is reportedly not happy about Qatar’s role on the board but is concerned about being seen as blocking too many aspects of the U.S. plan.

The White House is still seeking commitments from around six more prominent leaders, including Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Erdoğan.

While the Board of Peace is meant to be a symbolic committee showcasing international buy-in, an executive committee is meant to oversee the on-the-ground administration of the Gaza Strip by a technocratic, Palestinian committee.

The executive committee will be staffed by at least four figures who, according to an Israeli official cited by the Times of Israel, have good working relations with Israel, including White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law and aide Jared Kushner, former UK prime minister Tony Blair, former UN envoy to the Mideast Nickolay Mladenov, and American business leaders.