ALBAWABA - As part of the Trump administration's plan to change how the Gaza Strip is run after the ceasefire, US officials say that an international stabilization force could start deploying there as early as January.
According to high-ranking U.S. officials who asked not to be named, the proposed force will not fight Hamas. Instead, it will focus on keeping the peace and helping with transitional governance structures. Several countries have already said they want to take part, but the final list of participants is still being worked out.
Officials said that Washington is now working to finalize the rules of engagement, size, mission scope, and training protocols for the force. A U.S. Army major general could be named the mission's commander, but no official decision has been made yet.
The U.S. Will Be in Charge of the New Governance Framework
Axios said this week that the Trump administration is in the "final stages" of coming up with a new way to govern Gaza. During a trip to Israel, U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz reportedly told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the U.S. plans to take direct control of the stabilization effort, including choosing the top commander of the force.
The Mandate Comes from the UN Resolution
A UN Security Council resolution passed on November 17 allows for the deployment. It allows for the creation of a temporary international stabilization force and sets up a "Peace Council" led by the U.S. to oversee reconstruction funding and the transitional administration.
According to President Donald Trump's 20-point peace plan to end the conflict and change the way power is structured in the territory, the Peace Council is responsible for coordinating funding for rebuilding Gaza and setting the overall framework for governance.
