HIBAPRESS – Agencies
Two U.S. officials said that international forces may deploy in the Gaza Strip as early as the beginning of next month as part of a United Nations-mandated stabilization force, but how to disarm Hamas remains unclear.
The two officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, explained that the International Stabilization Force (ISF) would not be tasked with fighting Hamas, and that a large number of countries have expressed interest in participating. Reuters quoted the sources as saying that Washington is currently working on determining the size of the force, its composition, its accommodation, its training, and its rules of engagement. They indicated that Washington is considering appointing a U.S. general with the rank of brigadier general to lead the force, but no final decisions have been made yet. The deployment of the international force is a key pillar in the second phase of the peace plan announced by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding Gaza, after the start of a fragile truce in the two-year-long war on October 10, which saw the release of hostages by Hamas and the release of Palestinian detainees by Israel. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said: "There is a lot of quiet planning behind the scenes for this phase. We want to ensure a lasting and stable peace."
