US Seeks Quick Deployment Of International Gaza Force

Leading American diplomat Marco Rubio conveyed aspirations on Friday, October 24, for quickly assembling an international force to enforce the ceasefire in Gaza, while Palestinian groups consented that a panel of technocrats would administer the territory after the war.

The Secretary of State traveled to Israel immediately following Vice President JD Vance in a comprehensive push by the United States to convince both Hamas and Israel to honor the truce. Rubio stated it was essential for the agreement to establish “the conditions for the stabilisation force to come in as soon as it possibly can be put together.”

Rubio voiced hope for a lasting conclusion to the two-year Gaza conflict during discussions with Israeli, U.S., and additional Western forces overseeing the ceasefire from within a repurposed warehouse in southern Israel. The agreement, led by President Donald Trump, requires an international force to manage security after the ceasefire that concluded the war initiated by Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack.

At the same time, the primary Palestinian factions, encompassing Hamas, declared on Friday that they had reached consensus in a gathering to establish a provisional Palestinian committee of independent technocrats to assume control over the administration of Gaza. As per a joint statement released on the Hamas website, the committee would “manage the affairs of life and basic services in cooperation with Arab brothers and international institutions.”

The statement additionally called for a convening of all factions to “agree on a national strategy and to revitalise the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people.” Hamas is not a member of the PLO, which is controlled by its enduring adversary, Fatah.

Hamas, which took control in Gaza in 2007, has previously indicated it has no desire to rule the territory following the war but has resisted demands that it disarm its militants.

The deployment of an international security force is vital since it could release funds for reconstruction; U.S. officials pledge none will be directed to areas under Hamas control. The nations contributing troops, nevertheless, remain to be determined.

Rubio affirmed that Israel would possess veto rights regarding the force’s makeup, in light of reports that Israel has opposed Turkey’s involvement. “There’s a lot of countries that have offered to do it. Obviously as you put together this force, it will have to be people that Israel is comfortable with,” he said.

Turkey, a member of NATO, has been a vocal opponent of Israel during President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s leadership, whereas Indonesia, the largest nation with a Muslim majority in the world, has expressed willingness to dispatch troops. The United Arab Emirates has participated already in monitoring the ceasefire.

Rubio indicated the United States might pursue a UN mandate for the force, since certain countries require the global organization’s approval to send troops. Nonetheless, he ruled out any ongoing involvement for UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, which Israel has prohibited from operating in its territory.

The Trump administration has grown progressively stern with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who in March dismissed a prior ceasefire and directed a significant new military operation. Israel is additionally still awaiting Hamas to deliver the remains of 13 of 28 deceased hostages it committed to return.

Hamas stated on Friday it had obtained “clear guarantees” from mediators Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey that “the war has effectively ended.”

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli