Scoop: U.S. seeks UN approval for Gaza security force with broad two-year mandate
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Trump with several leaders at the Gaza Peace Summit last month in Egypt. Photo: Yoan Valat/Pool via Getty
The U.S. sent several UN Security Council members a draft resolution on Monday for the establishment of an international force in Gaza for a duration of at least two years, according to a copy obtained by Axios.
Why it matters: The draft resolution, which was designated "SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED," would give the U.S. and other participating countries a broad mandate to govern Gaza and provide security through the end of 2027, with the possibility of extensions after that.
Driving the news: The draft resolution will be the basis for negotiations over the coming days between UN Security Council members, with the goal of voting to establish it in the coming weeks and deploying the first troops to Gaza by January, a U.S. official told Axios.
- The U.S. official stressed that the International Security Force (ISF) will be an "enforcement force and not a peacekeeping force."
- The force would involve troops from several participating countries and be established in consultation with the Gaza "Board of Peace," which President Trump has said he will chair.
- The draft also calls for the Board of Peace to remain in place at least through the end of 2027.
According to 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 ISF would also "stabilize the security environment in Gaza by ensuring the process of demilitarizing the Gaza Strip, including the destruction and prevention of rebuilding of military, terror, and offensive infrastructure, as well as the permanent decommissioning of weapons from non-state armed groups," the draft states.
- That suggests the mandate includes disarming Hamas, if the group or elements within it don't do so voluntarily.
- The draft also says the ISF will take on "additional tasks as may be necessary in support of the Gaza agreement.
Breaking it down: The ISF is intended to provide security in Gaza during a transition period during which Israel is to gradually withdraw from additional parts of Gaza, and the Palestinian Authority is to conduct reforms that would enable it to take over Gaza longer-term.
- Countries including Indonesia, Azerbaijan, Egypt and Turkey have shown willingness to contribute troops, Axios previously reported.
Zoom in: The draft resolution says the ISF will deploy in Gaza "under unified command acceptable to the Board of Peace."
- It stresses that the establishment of the force and its operations will take place "in close consultation and cooperation with Egypt and Israel."
- The force will be empowered "to use all necessary measures to carry out its mandate consistent with international law, including international humanitarian law."
What to watch: The draft resolution also calls for the empowerment of the Board of Peace as "a transitional governance administration" to set the priorities and raise funding for Gaza reconstruction, until the Palestinian Authority "has satisfactorily completed its reform program" and after sign-off from the Board of Peace.
- According to the draft resolution, the Board of Peace will be "supervising and supporting of a Palestinian technocratic, apolitical committee of competent Palestinians from the Strip ... which shall be responsible for day-to-day operations of Gaza's civil service and administration."
- The U.S. official said he expects the Board of Peace to be operational before the technocratic committee is established.
- The draft also says aid will be delivered by organizations working with the Board of Peace — including the UN, Red Cross and Red Crescent. Any organization that misuses aid or diverts it will be banned.
