Five nations have pledged troops for an international security force in Gaza, as announced by the commander of the force at a meeting in Washington, D.C., convened by President Donald Trump’s newly established Board of Peace. The first five countries offering troops for the International Stabilization Force (ISF) are Indonesia, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, and Albania. Additionally, Egypt and Jordan have committed to training police forces for the mission.
The ISF will commence operations in Rafa, southern Gaza, focusing on police training and gradually expanding its presence across different sectors. The long-term objective is to deploy 20,000 ISF troops and train 12,000 police officers, according to U.S. Army Maj.-Gen. Jasper Jeffers, the ISF commander.
During the meeting, Trump announced a $10 billion contribution from the U.S. towards the Board of Peace. The funding source for this contribution was not immediately disclosed, with Congress not involved in authorizing the peace initiative. Trump also disclosed that nine nations had collectively raised $7 billion as an initial investment for Gaza’s reconstruction, contingent upon Hamas disarming, a goal yet to be realized.
The Board of Peace, which includes Israel but lacks Palestinian representation, aims to address conflicts beyond Gaza, a move that has raised concerns about potentially undermining the United Nations’ role in global diplomacy. Notably, the majority of NATO and EU allies have chosen not to participate, with Canada declining a permanent seat due to the high admission cost.
Regarding the international security force, Indonesia has committed to providing 8,000 or more troops, while Kazakhstan plans to deploy military units, including medical teams, to support the stabilization efforts. Meanwhile, over 2,000 Palestinians have applied to join a new transitional Palestinian police force.
Disarmament remains a critical issue in the peace plan, with Hamas yet to hand over weapons as stipulated. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized that Hamas will be disarmed, either voluntarily or forcibly, in the near future. Hamas, on the other hand, insists that any international force must monitor the ceasefire and prevent ongoing Israeli aggression.
Trump’s assertion that Norway would host a Board of Peace event was swiftly corrected by the Norwegian government, clarifying that they will host a meeting of the Ad-Hoc Liaison Committee for Palestinian aid but will not join the board. Norway has a longstanding role in the AHLC, established post the Oslo Accords to facilitate peace between Israel and Palestine.
While Trump highlighted peace efforts in the Middle East, concerns persist over escalating tensions in the region, particularly amidst U.S. military buildup and ongoing negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program. Trump’s warning of repercussions if Iran fails to reach an agreement has heightened apprehensions of a broader conflict.
