US President’s Plan for Gaza Peace.

United States officials have circulated a draft U.N. Security Council resolution for setting up an international force in the Gaza Strip at least for the next two years.

Seeking a U.N. mandate for the International Stabilisation Force (ISF) is an indication that the landmark deal brokered by President Donald Trump is advancing after agreement by Israel, Hamas and Arab countries in trying to cede the war in Gaza and potentially reshape the Middle East.

The first stages of the deal brokered by Trump are nearing completion. On Monday, Israel handed over the bodies of 45 Palestinians, according to the Red Cross. That came a day after militants returned the remains of three Israeli hostages who had been taken to Gaza in the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023, which started the devastating war.

Steps toward deployment of the international force could help to maintain momentum as tensions continue with deadly Israeli strikes against what the army has said were threats to its forces. As per the draft, the ISF would be tasked with securing Gaza’s borders with Israel and Egypt, protecting civilians and humanitarian corridors, and training a new Palestinian police force, with which it’s to partner in its mission.

The force’s mandate would include the demilitarisation of the Gaza Strip, a key demand of Israel and one to which Hamas has yet to clearly agree. U.S. officials have stressed that the force would be an “enforcement force and not a peacekeeping force“, and would be established in consultation with a “Board for Peace” to be chaired by Trump.

The question is, whether the force will ensure that Hamas and other Palestinian factions give up their weapons? or just seek to keep the peace is an important one as it raises the possibility of retaliations involving the force, which is something unclear that participants would be ready for.

Palestinian-American mediator Bishara Bahbah was quoted by the Asharq Al-Awsat Arabic newspaper as saying senior officials were ready for Hamas to hand over only heavy weapons while retaining light weapons for internal security.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan have asserted, “What countries we’ve spoken with have said is this: they will decide whether or not to send troops based on the content of the definition in the resolution expected from the U.N. Security Council”.

Amichai Stein: “From Israel’s perspective, whose senior Israeli officials have held talks with the Trump administration on the issue, this is a draft resolution that leans toward its demands”.

Bishara Bahbah, head of the Arab Americans for Peace Committee, told: “Washington will not permit this agreement to fail, regardless of Israeli objections”.

Discussions will be held over the mandate of the force and the terms under which it will operate before it can be agreed upon by Security Council members. This will be a diplomatic challenge for the Trump administration, which will also need to convince participating countries in the force.

Team Maverick