Israel approves International Stabilisation Force for Gaza under Trump peace plan
The decision marks a key step in the US president’s 20-point framework, though Israel retains veto power over contributing nations and the force will operate in coordination with its military.
Israel’s security cabinet has approved the entry of the International Stabilisation Force (ISF) into Gaza, a pivotal component of United States President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan. The approval of key legal measures was confirmed by an Israeli official on Sunday, with the Times of Israel reporting that the force will operate in full coordination with the Israeli military.
The ISF is expected to comprise 200 personnel drawn from “friendly countries,” specifically identified as Uganda and Morocco, according to Reuters. While the cabinet’s decision establishes the framework for deployment, no specific timeframe has been provided for when the troops will arrive in the strip.
Under the terms of the approval, Israel retains the authority to approve which countries may contribute forces to the mission. This provision ensures that Jerusalem maintains significant control over the composition of the international contingent, which will operate in areas outside of direct Israeli military control.
The move follows a ceasefire agreement reached in October between Hamas and Israel. However, the Palestinian Ministry of Health reports that 1,200 Palestinians have been killed and 3,888 wounded since the deal was implemented. Reports indicate that killings by the Israeli military have occurred almost daily during this period, even as Israel continues to adjust the “Yellow Line” demarcating withdrawal areas.
The broader peace plan also outlines the creation of a National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) and an international “Board of Peace” to oversee reconstruction. Nickolay Mladenov, director-general of the Board of Peace, welcomed the cabinet’s approval, describing it as a critical step toward stabilising Gaza and enabling a transition to Palestinian transitional administration.
The cabinet’s decision comes a day before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to travel to Washington, DC. Currently, Israel occupies approximately 70 percent of Gaza, where nearly two million residents have been displaced to a diminishing fraction of the territory. The vast majority of Western countries have refused to join the Gaza Board of Peace.
