International Stabilization Force

International Stabilization Force
قوة الاستقرار الدولية
Emblem
FoundedMandated by United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803 on 17 November 2025
TypeMultinational peacekeeping force
Commanders
Current
commander		 Jasper Jeffers (USA)
Deputy commander TBA (Indonesia)

The International Stabilization Force (ISF) is a United Nations-mandated multinational peacekeeping force outlined in the Gaza peace plan agreed by Hamas and Israel in October 2025. The force's stated aims are to help provide security, train a new Palestinian police force, and oversee the demilitarization and redevelopment of the Gaza Strip.[1][2]

Background

The Gaza war began on October 7, 2023 following a series of coordinated armed attacks carried out by Hamas and several other Palestinian militant groups in southern Israel.

Proposals to deploy a multinational peacekeeping force in the Gaza Strip was initially proposed by former British prime minister Tony Blair in a draft peace plan developed in July 2025 which Blair discussed with US president Donald Trump and his adviser Jared Kushner in August 2025.[3][4] Trump presented a 20-point peace plan to end the Gaza War in September 2025, which included provisions for an internationally supervised interim government for the Gaza Strip and an Arab-led multinational peacekeeping force. On 8 October 2025, Trump announced that Israeli and Palestinian negotiators had agreed to accept the first phase of his proposed peace plan.[5] The agreement was signed by both parties the following day and came into effect on 10 October 2025.

Hamas, which continues to control roughly half of the Gaza Strip, has rejected any imposed international guardianship plan. Reportedly, many countries want to ensure their troops would be peacekeeping with the consent of all parties, as opposed to having to fight Hamas forces.[6][7]

Purpose

Under the proposal, a multinational peacekeeping force, and locally recruited civilian police force would be deployed into the Gaza Strip accompanied by a withdrawal of the Israel Defense Forces from the territory. The primary goal of the ISF is to create a secure, demilitarized, and "terror-free" Gaza that poses no threat to its neighbors. It would accomplish this by supporting the dismantling of Hamas' military infrastructure, including tunnels and weapons production facilities.[8]

Core functions

The ISF mandate includes:[9]

  • Supporting demilitarization and destruction of terror infrastructure
  • Securing border areas with Israel and Egypt
  • Protecting civilians and humanitarian operations
  • Training vetted Palestinian police forces
  • Facilitating humanitarian corridors
  • Assisting the Board of Peace in monitoring the ceasefire

As the ISF takes control and establishes stability, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is required to withdraw from Gaza in a staged process based on agreed-upon milestones and timelines. A security perimeter is intended to remain in place until Gaza is deemed secure.[10]

Preparations

Following the first phase of the Gaza war peace plan coming into effect on 10 October 2025, a multinational joint task force is to be established to monitor the ceasefire.

On 15 October, it was reported that about 25 US personnel were in the region serving in a coordination and oversight role for the international stabilization force which is starting to be constructed.[11]

On 17 October, it was reported that the US, UK and France were working on the text of a United Nations Security Council resolution which would give the ISF a mandate similar to the international security support mission in Haiti.[12]

A Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC), under the leadership of Brad Cooper, head of US Central Command was set up shortly after the ceasefire agreement came into effect on 10 October 2025. The center aims to help facilitate the flow of humanitarian, logistical, and security assistance from international counterparts into Gaza.

On 3 November 2025, after Jordan and Germany declared that the ISF would need to have a UN mandate,[13] the United States submitted a draft resolution to the United Nations Security Council that would authorize the Stabilization Force for two years under the direction of a Board of Peace.[14][15] The draft underwent two further revisions before being adopted as United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803 on 17 November 2025.[16]

The Egyptian government began to establish a command centre for the ISF in El Arish in December 2025.[17]

United States Central Command hosted a planning conference on the command structure and deployment of the ISF on 16 December 2025 in Qatar. Countries attending included Cyprus, Georgia, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, Jordan, Japan, Greece, Singapore, the EU, Saudi Arabia, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Kuwait, Morocco, Bahrain, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Finland, Kosovo, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Spain, and Yemen.[18]

On 17 January 2026, it was announced that Major General Jasper Jeffers had been appointed as Commander of the International Stabilization Force.[19] Jeffers' permanent position is Commander, Special Operations Command Central of United States Central Command.[20]

Contributing nations

Confirmed contributors

Several countries have publicly committed troops to the ISF:

Support roles and training

  • Egypt and Jordan have pledged to train police forces as part of the broader stabilization effort.[26]

Countries listed as interested

Other nations were reported as showing interest in contributing troops or support roles, but have not publicly confirmed deployments:

  • Egypt, Qatar, United Arab Emirates
  • Turkey[27]
  • Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Australia, Malaysia, Canada, France, Cyprus, Greece, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ethiopia, Italy

Notes on participation

  • Saudi Arabia and the UAE were reported to have declined participation in the force itself, focusing on financial and humanitarian support.[28]
  • Although Pakistan was listed as interested in past sources, it was not among the nations publicly announced as committing troops at the inaugural Board of Peace meeting.[29]

See also

References

  1. ^ Magid, Jacob (2025-09-18). "Revealed: Tony Blair's US-backed proposal for ending the Gaza war and replacing Hamas". The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved 2025-09-30.
  2. ^ Wintour, Patrick (2025-09-25). "Washington backing plan for Tony Blair to head transitional Gaza authority". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-09-30.
  3. ^ Badshah, Nadeem (27 August 2025). "Tony Blair attends White House meeting with Trump on postwar Gaza". The Guardian.
  4. ^ "Former UK PM Tony Blair could head Gaza transitional authority under UN mandate". The Arab Weekly. 2025-09-27. Retrieved 2025-10-14.
  5. ^ "Gaza latest: Trump wants to 'rebuild Gaza' after 'historic day' - but avoids stance on Palestinian state". Sky News. October 11, 2025. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  6. ^ "International troops won't want to enforce Gaza peace, says King of Jordan". BBC. 2025-10-27. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  7. ^ "Nations Hesitate to Send Troops to Gaza, Fearing Clashes With Hamas". The New York Times. 2025-10-21. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  8. ^ "Gaza International Transitional Authority (GITA) Institutional Structure" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2025-09-29.
  9. ^ Baker, Amb Alan (2025-11-30). "UN Security Council Resolution 2803 and the Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict". Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 2025-12-23.
  10. ^ Gjevori, Elis. "Here's the full text of Trump's 20-point plan to end Israel's war on Gaza". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  11. ^ "Planning under way for international force in Gaza, say US advisers". Reuters.
  12. ^ "France and Britain refine plans at UN for Gaza force resolution". Reuters.
  13. ^ "US circulates draft UN resolution seeking two-year mandate to govern Gaza, provide security". JNS. 2025-11-04. Retrieved 2025-11-04.
  14. ^ Ravid, Barak (2025-11-03). "Scoop: U.S. seeks UN approval for Gaza security force with broad two-year mandate". Axios. Retrieved 2025-11-04.
  15. ^ @BarakRavid (November 4, 2025). "Scoop: read here the full text of the draft security council resolution on the gaza international force..." (Tweet) – via X (formerly Twitter).
  16. ^ "Security Council Authorizes International Stabilization Force in Gaza, Adopting Resolution 2803 (2025) | Meetings Coverage and Press Releases". press.un.org.
  17. ^ "With Stabilisation Force HQ in Sinai, Egypt becomes Gaza's gate".
  18. ^ Berman, Lazar (2025-12-16). "US hosts forum in Qatar on international Gaza force, with Turkey left out". The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved 2025-12-23.
  19. ^ House, The White (January 16, 2026). "Statement on President Trump's Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict".
  20. ^ Robertson, Jimmy. "'Right person, right officer, right job': Alumnus helps oversee Israel-Lebanon ceasefire". news.vt.edu.
  21. ^ "Indonesia to Send Troops to Gaza Peacekeeping Mission". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  22. ^ "Morocco joins ISF mission". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  23. ^ "Kazakhstan announces Gaza mission support". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  24. ^ "Kosovo pledges troops to ISF". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  25. ^ "Albania to join ISF". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  26. ^ "Egypt and Jordan to train Gaza police". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  27. ^ "Turkey to send troops to Gaza ISF". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  28. ^ "Saudi Arabia, UAE opt out of Gaza ISF". Wikipedia. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  29. ^ "Pakistan not among 5 nations announced for ISF". Dawn. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
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