US in discussion with various nations regarding Gaza stabilization force, hopes to deploy in early 2026

The United States is currently in intense discussions with several nations in an effort to assemble the International Stabilization Force (ISF) as authorized by the recent UN Security Council Resolution 2803. 

According to recent reports, besides talking to Arab and Muslim nations about contributing troops to the ISF, the U.S. is also talking to European countries, which have expressed an interest in participating in the training of Palestinian security forces who will take over the policing of the enclave after the ISF has finished its role. 

A report in i24 News cited “a senior U.S. official” who said that the Americans hope to have the multinational force ready to deploy in early 2026. The official said that five nations have already signaled interest in contributing troops to the ISF. 

It is not clear if one of those nations is Turkey, which previously said it was willing to send forces to the Gaza Strip, before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel would oppose such a move, citing highly inflammatory comments by Turkish leaders, both in recent days and over the past few years.

Turkey has also refused to classify Hamas as a terror organization or clearly condemn the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre of Israeli civilians by Hamas fighters and Gazan civilians. 

Currently, Washington is trying to secure the commitment of troops and finances for the ISF. The U.S. also hopes to have broad participation in the ISF in order to ensure legitimacy for the forces in the eyes of the Palestinians. 

Initially, the ISF is intended to be the only armed force in the Gaza Strip, after the IDF completes its withdrawal from the territory it currently occupies. The IDF withdrawal is dependent on certain developments, including the disarmament of Hamas. The terror group recently reiterated its opposition to disarmament and the establishment of the ISF in Gaza. 

French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot, attending a meeting of more than 60 delegations in Brussels on Thursday to discuss post-war reconstruction, security, and governance in the Gaza Strip, said that Europe must play a role in the U.S.-proposed peace plan.

“In Gaza, we welcomed the adoption by the United Nations of the US peace plan. And I condemn the ceasefire violations that occurred yesterday, which resulted in a large number of casualties,” Barrot said in a video statement.

“All parties must strictly adhere to the U.S. peace plan, which is now endorsed by the United Nations.” 

“France and Europe must play their full part in the implementation of this peace plan,” Barrot continued. “That is certainly our intention.” 

Barrot referred to the recent initiative by French President Emmanuel Macron to begin reforms in the Palestinian Authority, to prepare for the PA to take a larger role in the governance of Gaza, while saying that France would also send some police [gendarmes] to aid in the training. 

“Regarding security, we support the objective of training 3,000 Palestinian police and security forces by European forces,” the minister said. “France stands ready to deploy approximately 100 gendarmes to the Palestinian territories for this purpose.” 

Barrot reiterated his government’s support for a role for the Palestinian Authority in the post-war Gaza governance. 

“In terms of administration and governance in Gaza, we support efforts to reform the Palestinian Authority,” he stated.

“The President of the Republic announced the creation of a joint committee to advance the work of constitutional and institutional reform of the Palestinian Authority, to reform and strengthen it so that, when the time comes, it can assume its responsibilities for the administration of Gaza.” 

The EU is hoping to play a key role in the establishment of police and border security missions in Gaza, according to a report in DPA International. It appears that the EU plans to build on its current EUPOL COPPS police mission from the Palestinian Territories in Judea and Samaria as the basis for its work in Gaza.

EUPOL COPPS is the European Union Mission for the Support of Palestinian Police and Rule of Law, established in 2006. 

The mission is meant to help the Palestinian Authority develop its police and justice sectors. According to the DPA International report, the EU hopes to rebuild judicial and security structures in Gaza and organize training programs for Palestinian police instructors at a police academy in Jericho, co-funded by Germany.” The EU also hopes to place EU officials at the borders of Gaza, as part of a border-monitoring mission. 

Despite the EU’s role in training PA security forces, Israeli officials point to the involvement of Palestinian security officers in terror attacks against Israelis as a point of failure for the EU program.