A proposed United Nations resolution to deploy an international stabilization force to the Gaza Strip could be finalized in the coming fortnight, diplomatic sources indicate. However, significant disagreements over the mission’s core mandate threaten to delay the process.
Key points of contention include the operational rules for the force, its chain of command, and the critical issue of linking its deployment to a full withdrawal of Israeli military units from the territory. The potential for U.S. leadership of the mission, albeit without a major ground troop commitment, is reportedly under discussion as a measure to ensure broad international participation and credibility.
The negotiations unfold against a backdrop of persistent violence, with recent casualties marking the deadliest day since a ceasefire took hold last month. This surge in hostilities has intensified warnings from regional leaders about the urgent need to fill the security and administrative vacuum in Gaza to prevent a collapse of the fragile calm.
A meeting of several Muslim nations this week highlighted the challenges. While some countries have expressed a conditional willingness to contribute personnel, they insist the force’s mandate must be strictly for peacekeeping, not peace enforcement. There is also a firm demand for a clear mechanism to prevent clashes with Israeli forces and a definitive timeline for Israel’s military exit.
Concurrently, efforts are underway to form a committee of Palestinian technocrats to assume civilian administration of the territory. This body is intended to be non-political but would maintain a formal link to the Palestinian Authority to preserve Gaza’s status as part of the occupied Palestinian territories.
Regional diplomats stress that for any plan to succeed, it must balance international security guarantees with Palestinian autonomy. The overarching goal, as described by one official, is to create a framework where “Gazans see an international element in support of a Palestinian government, rather than an international takeover.” Without such a structure, they warn, reconstruction and long-term stability will remain out of reach.