Israel to allow international force into Gaza under Trump ceasefire plan

Israel has approved the entry of a multinational security force into Gaza, a move that could bolster a US-backed ceasefire plan. An Israeli official confirmed Sunday that the security cabinet had greenlit the legal framework for the force, dubbed the International Stabilisation Force (ISF).

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to travel to Washington on Monday for a meeting with President Donald Trump, where the plan is expected to be a key topic. The ISF is slated to include 200 members from "friendly countries such as Uganda and Morocco." These forces would be deployed in areas of Gaza not currently under Israeli control, with each contingent requiring individual Israeli approval.

The development occurs against a backdrop of stalled peace efforts and ongoing conflict. Much of Gaza remains in ruins following the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks and subsequent Israeli military operations. Trump's 20-point peace plan, which includes increased humanitarian aid, civilian administration by Palestinian technocrats, Hamas disarming, and Israeli withdrawal, has largely stalled.

Israel currently controls an estimated 64 percent of Gaza, with nearly all of its 2 million residents living in severely damaged buildings or makeshift tents. Hamas has resisted disarming, while Israel has indicated plans to expand its control. The ISF's deployment is seen as a critical step toward stabilizing Gaza, supporting demilitarization, and facilitating a transition to Palestinian administration, according to Nickolay Mladenov, Trump's envoy for Gaza.

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It is a critical part of the agreed framework for stabilising Gaza, supporting demilitarisation, and enabling the transition to effective Palestinian transitional administration under the NCAG.