The Desperate Search for Gaza Peacekeepers
Most nations seem reluctant to join Gaza’s international stabilization force. About 20 miles from Gaza, the United States operates a civil-military coordination center in a large, long-abandoned industrial complex in Kiryat Gat, southern Israel. Around 200 American soldiers and officials are stationed there, serving as eyes and ears to monitor the fragile cease-fire between Israel and Hamas.
These U.S. personnel are clearly not intended as a combat force to enforce the next steps of the Trump administration’s peace plan. Neither U.S. allies nor Arab partners have shown readiness to deploy troops to police Hamas if the group refuses to disarm.
Challenges Facing the International Stabilization Force
The planned international stabilization force (ISF) is meant to assuage Israeli concerns, enable the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to withdraw from Gaza, and maintain peace necessary for Gaza’s reconstruction. However, it faces significant obstacles:
- Who will commit troops, and which countries will Israel accept?
- Who will confront Hamas, and who might aim to protect it?
The main barrier to deploying such a force is the presence of Hamas, as no country wishes to engage in combat with the group. If Hamas continues to refuse disarmament, it is unlikely any Western or Arab states will send troops to Gaza.
"None of the United States’ allies or Arab partners have signaled any willingness to send troops to police Hamas if it refuses to disarm."
"The first obstacle to deploying such a force is the presence of Hamas itself, since no one wants to fight the group."
Author’s summary: The hesitation of countries to join a peacekeeping force in Gaza amid Hamas’s refusal to disarm highlights the immense challenges in achieving lasting stability and reconstruction in the region.