Gaza terrorists aligned with Hamas outside Rafah, Gaza, on September 20, 2023. (Shutterstock)
The US-backed, UN-mandated International Stabilization Force reportedly will not be tasked with using force against Hamas if the terror group refuses to disarm, raising questions regarding how Gaza will be demilitarized.
By World Israel News Staff
The International Stabilization Force being formed to enforce the Gaza ceasefire and to ensure the disarming of terrorist groups including Hamas will not be tasked with using force against Hamas in the event the Islamist movement refuses to surrender its weapons, according to a report over the weekend.
On Saturday, Reuters published a report citing two American officials who spoke on condition of anonymity regarding plans for the proposed United Nations peacekeeping force, which under the terms of the Trump administration’s 20-point Gaza peace plan will gradually replace the IDF in Gaza and provide “long-term internal security.”
The US has said the ISF will play a key role in demilitarizing the Gaza Strip, though as of yet there are no details regarding how the disarmament process will take place, nor who will bear responsibility for taking action against Hamas should it refuse to cooperate.
The two officials who spoke with Reuters emphasized that the ISF will not be placed in a combat position against Hamas, though the exact parameters of the force’s mission have yet to be determined.
More than two dozen countries are slated to take part in a conference hosted by the US Central Command in Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday aimed at cementing support for the ISF and hammering out details including the rules of engagement for the ISF, the force’s size, housing, and joint training.
According to the officials cited in the report, many countries have expressed interest in providing troops for the ISF, despite previous claims that potential contributors have expressed unease with the idea of committing forces to the Gaza Strip.
The Trump administration is hoping to begin deploying forces under the ISF mandate next month, with reports that a two-star American general will be in command of the peacekeeping mission.
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