US Draft Seeks Enforcement Force to Disarm Hamas — Foreign Troops Could Deploy to Gaza as Early as January

US-led draft proposes enforcement-style stabilisation force for Gaza

US officials have reportedly circulated a draft United Nations Security Council mandate that could see the first foreign troops arrive in Gaza within about two months — potentially as early as January — with a mission described as an "enforcement force" aimed at demilitarising Hamas.

Mandate and objectives

The draft mandate, obtained by media outlets, would authorise an international stabilisation force and a Gaza "board of peace" to operate under a Security Council resolution running through the end of 2027. According to the document, the force would be charged with "stabilising the security environment in Gaza by ensuring the process of demilitarising 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." It would also secure Gaza's land borders with Israel and Egypt.

Enforcement vs. peacekeeping

One US source told Axios that the contingent would be "an enforcement force and not a peacekeeping force," signalling that Washington expects the mission to take robust action to remove Hamas's military capabilities rather than perform traditional peacekeeping duties.

Political and regional friction

Several regional candidates, including Jordan, have expressed reluctance to participate in any operation that would forcibly disarm Hamas, saying they would prefer to secure areas alongside Palestinian police after the group surrendered its weapons. Israel publicly supports the US initiative but remains sceptical that anything short of renewed operations by the Israel Defense Forces could fully eliminate Hamas's armed capacity.

Leadership and structure

The plan envisions a Gaza "board of peace" to coordinate the civilian and security strands of the mission. President Donald Trump has indicated he would chair the board, while day-to-day leadership and the composition of the technical team remain contested; Sir Tony Blair has been floated as a potential candidate for a senior role. The draft calls for the board and stabilisation force to have a Security Council mandate until the end of 2027.

Potential contributors and operational risks

Countries reported as potential contributors include Indonesia, Azerbaijan, Egypt and Turkey, although Israel has ruled out Turkish involvement. Reports suggest no Western troops are expected to deploy inside Gaza. There is a significant risk the current ceasefire could collapse before foreign contingents arrive: clashes east of the so-called "yellow" withdrawal line have already killed three IDF soldiers and led to Israeli retaliatory strikes that have caused dozens of Palestinian fatalities. Israeli officials also report that hundreds of Hamas fighters remain east of the line, largely in tunnel networks, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ruled out safe passage for them.

Diplomacy and monitoring

Washington has established an international civil-military headquarters in Israel to monitor the ceasefire, and senior US officials have visited the region in recent weeks to press Israel to avoid a return to large-scale hostilities while diplomatic arrangements are finalised.

Note: Reporting is based on draft documents and media accounts; all plans remain subject to negotiation and Security Council approval.