President Donald Trump has said he expects a US-coordinated international stabilisation force to deploy to Gaza “very soon” as part of his post-war, 20-point plan for the enclave, which continues to face a severe humanitarian crisis amid ongoing Israeli strikes. Trump added that an alliance of “very powerful countries” had offered to intervene if problems arise with Hamas, which has not publicly agreed to disarm.
The United Nations Security Council is preparing negotiations on a draft resolution that would authorize a two-year mandate for a transitional governance body and the stabilisation force. The UN secretary-general, António Guterres, has stressed any such force must have “full international legitimacy” to support Palestinians effectively.
A senior US official said Washington circulated the draft resolution this week to the 10 elected UNSC members and several regional partners. According to reporting on the draft, seen by regional governments including Egypt, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, the force could number up to 20,000 troops and would be authorized to “use all necessary measures” to fulfil its tasks — including protecting civilians, securing border areas, and training Palestinian police. That language would allow the force to deploy force where necessary to carry out its mandate.
A central element of the proposed operation is reducing Hamas’s military capacity. The stabilisation force would be tasked with destroying offensive infrastructure and preventing the group from reconstituting its capabilities. Hamas has not confirmed whether it will demilitarize, a core demand of Trump’s plan.
Trump’s proposal helped pave the way for a captive-release deal and a fragile ceasefire on 10 October. Israel has, however, repeatedly been accused of breaching the truce with further strikes and by imposing restrictions that have limited humanitarian access to Gaza.
Turkiye was a key broker in recent diplomacy, urging Hamas to accept the plan and convening foreign ministers from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Jordan, Pakistan and Indonesia in Istanbul to build support for the stabilisation force. Ankara has also strongly condemned Israel’s campaign in Gaza and has demanded that Israel halt ceasefire violations and allow humanitarian aid into the territory.
But Israel is firmly opposed to any Turkish military presence in Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Saar have both said Israel will not accept Turkiye’s forces. Israel has articulated its own vision for the stabilisation arrangement: during a joint appearance with Trump in September, Netanyahu said Israel would retain security responsibility, including a security perimeter, for the foreseeable future.
Separately, the head of US Central Command, which oversees operations in the Middle East, stated last month during a Gaza visit that no US combat troops would be deployed to the enclave. As negotiations at the UN continue, key questions remain over troop composition, who will exercise on-the-ground authority, and whether the operation will secure broad regional and Palestinian acceptance.