Scoop: U.S. seeks UN approval for Gaza security force with broad two-year mandate

The United States has submitted a draft resolution to the UN Security Council proposing the establishment of an International Security Force (ISF) for Gaza with a broad two-year mandate. This force, intended to be an enforcement entity rather than a peacekeeping one, would comprise troops from various participating countries and would operate under a unified command acceptable to a proposed "Board of Peace." The U.S. aims for the Security Council to vote on this resolution in the coming weeks, with the goal of deploying the ISF by January and maintaining it through the end of 2027, with potential for extensions. The ISF's mandate would include securing Gaza's borders with Israel and Egypt, protecting civilians and humanitarian corridors, and training a new Palestinian police force. A key objective is to stabilize the security environment by ensuring the demilitarization of Gaza, which involves destroying and preventing the rebuilding of offensive infrastructure and the decommissioning of weapons from non-state armed groups, implying a role in disarming Hamas. The force would also undertake additional tasks as necessary to support a broader Gaza agreement. This initiative is part of a transition plan where Israel would gradually withdraw from parts of Gaza, and the Palestinian Authority would undergo reforms to eventually assume long-term governance. Several countries, including Indonesia, Azerbaijan, Egypt, and Turkey, have indicated willingness to contribute troops. The ISF's operations will be conducted in close consultat... download the app to read more