Newsletters
Five countries have committed troops to the Gaza International Stabilization Force (ISF) as billions of dollars were pledged for Gaza relief and reconstruction at the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace in Washington, D.C.
Maj. Gen. Jasper Jeffers, commander of the ISF, said Indonesia, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Kosovo and Albania pledged troops, while Egypt and Jordan will train police forces.
With Türkiye's name not mentioned in the list, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan once again reminded Ankara's readiness to support the ISF and Gaza ceasefire, stating, "Our message is this: whether it's humanitarian aid, the administration of Gaza, infrastructure and superstructure services, or contributing to the (International) Stabilization Force, we are ready to provide all kinds of support in all these areas."
Jeffers said the ISF has a dual mandate: stabilizing Gaza’s security environment and enabling civilian governance under the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG).
He said U.S. military experts have been on the ground for months preparing infrastructure and are operating from a combined joint operations center serving as headquarters.
The force will be deployed across five sectors, with one brigade assigned to each. The ISF plans to deploy first to the Rafah sector alongside police training efforts, expanding sector by sector. The long-term target is 12,000 police and 20,000 ISF soldiers. Indonesia has accepted the position of deputy commander.
“With these first steps, we will help bring the security that Gaza needs for our future prosperity and enduring peace,” Jeffers said.
The U.N. Security Council authorized the Board of Peace to establish the temporary ISF to secure Gaza’s border, maintain peace, protect civilians and train vetted Palestinian police forces.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. would contribute $10 billion to the Board of Peace. He said Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan and Kuwait collectively pledged more than $7 billion.
There is still no official statement from Türkiye regarding whether it will contribute financially to the Board of Peace.
The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs is raising an additional $2 billion, Trump said, while Japan will host a major fundraiser. He said FIFA would help raise $75 million for Gaza projects.
Trump said 59 countries signed on to support Gaza and expressed hope that Hamas would honor a commitment to disarm. “If they don't, they'll be harshly met,” he said.
U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Michael Waltz said 4,200 aid trucks have entered Gaza weekly for 13 consecutive weeks, reaching 2.1 million people.
Since Oct. 8, 2023, more than 72,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 171,000 injured, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Despite a ceasefire since Oct. 10, Israeli attacks have killed 611 and injured 1,630 more, the ministry said.
Qatar and Saudi Arabia each pledged $1 billion, Kuwait pledged $1 billion over the coming years, and the UAE announced an additional $1.2 billion.
Bahrain pledged support for digital governance infrastructure, while Morocco offered police deployment, training, a high-ranking officer for the ISF command, and a military field hospital, along with a deradicalization program.
Vice President JD Vance thanked participating leaders, calling the board an effort to “make the peace stick.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, “There is no plan B for Gaza. Plan B is going back to war.”
Jared Kushner said failure in Gaza is “not an option” and presented a three-year reconstruction plan, including safe zones, infrastructure restoration and employment generation coordinated with the U.S. and the World Bank.
A promotional video projected a full reconstruction of Rafah within three years and long-term regional integration through a corridor linking Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, extending to India and Europe.
Within a decade, Gaza is envisioned as a self-governing territory integrated into the region, according to the video.
The Board of Peace was established within efforts toward a peaceful settlement in Gaza and has expanded to promote peacemaking globally. Washington said additional states have joined the initiative.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
2 min read
1 min read
