Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
The United States is preparing a detailed plan to establish and deploy an international stabilization force in the Gaza Strip, according to a report published Thursday by Axios. The proposal, which could be finalized within weeks, forms part of a broader U.S.-led effort to secure a fragile ceasefire and lay the groundwork for long-term governance and security arrangements in the war-torn enclave.
According to U.S. and regional diplomatic sources cited by Axios, the plan envisions the creation of a multinational peacekeeping contingent supported by several allied nations. The initiative reportedly includes the training and deployment of a new Palestinian police force, designed to assume responsibility for maintaining order and internal security once Israeli forces withdraw.
Several countries including Egypt, Turkey, Indonesia, and Azerbaijan have reportedly expressed readiness to take part in the proposed international force. Discussions are said to be ongoing between Washington and European governments, as well as regional actors, to determine the mandate, composition, and rules of engagement of the mission.
French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné confirmed in an interview on Wednesday evening that France is actively working with the United States at the United Nations headquarters in New York to secure a Security Council mandate authorizing the deployment. “We are currently collaborating with American teams to ensure that this international force receives the necessary UN authorization to stabilize Gaza,” he said.
The initiative comes amid continued instability in Gaza despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire that took effect on October 10. The truce remains tenuous, with reports of renewed violence across the enclave. The Israeli military announced on Wednesday that it had struck a weapons depot in Gaza, following overnight air raids that killed dozens of Palestinians. Meanwhile, Hamas’s armed wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, claimed responsibility for the killing of an Israeli soldier during clashes.
Turkey, one of the countries named as a potential contributor to the multinational force, confirmed that discussions are underway. Sources in the Turkish Ministry of Defense told local media on Thursday that Ankara is in “continuous consultation with relevant parties” regarding the establishment of a Gaza task force. When asked whether Turkish troops might participate directly, the sources stated that the Turkish Armed Forces “continue their preparations in coordination with other national institutions,” emphasizing Turkey’s role as one of the “architects” of the current ceasefire arrangement.
The international force forms part of a multi-phase plan championed by U.S. President Donald Trump earlier this month. The first stage a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement between Israel and Hamas has already been implemented. The second phase, which is still under negotiation, envisions the deployment of the multinational peacekeeping mission, the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, and the gradual disarmament of Hamas.
The plan also calls for the creation of an interim administrative body under a new international transitional authority, tentatively named the “Peace Council,” which would oversee Gaza’s governance until a permanent political framework is established.
While the proposal represents the most ambitious international effort yet to stabilize Gaza following years of conflict, major challenges remain. Questions about the command structure of the force, its relations with local Palestinian authorities, and the willingness of all parties, including Israel and Hamas to accept its presence are still unresolved. Nevertheless, Washington and its partners appear determined to push forward, viewing the initiative as a crucial test of whether a sustainable peace can finally take root in the Gaza Strip.
