Explainer: The International Stabilisation Force for Gaza — What It Is and What It Would Do

On Monday, the UN Security Council approved a US-sponsored resolution endorsing a 20-point "Comprehensive Plan" proposed by President Donald Trump to end the war in Gaza. A central element of the resolution is support for creating and deploying an International Stabilisation Force (ISF) to oversee security arrangements and help implement any ceasefire.

What is the ISF?

The ISF is envisioned as a multinational contingent that would deploy to the Gaza Strip to support demilitarisation, train a newly formed Palestinian police unit, secure borders, protect civilians and humanitarian operations, and maintain key humanitarian corridors. The resolution describes the force as carrying out "additional tasks as may be necessary in support of the Comprehensive Plan."

Why is it proposed?

Put simply, the force is intended to assume many of the internal security roles that Hamas has carried out while governing Gaza since 2006, including policing and local security arrangements. Under the US plan, Hamas would be stripped of its governing authority and its armed capabilities, with members offered either the option to renounce violence and integrate into civilian life or safe passage out of Gaza — an offer Hamas has repeatedly said it will not accept in full.

Who would participate?

A senior White House adviser said Azerbaijan and Indonesia had offered troops. Egypt, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates were reported to be in talks about participation, though a senior Emirati official, Anwar Gargash, publicly stated the UAE would not join. Some reports suggest Egypt could take a leading role. Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, also said in October that Ankara was prepared to help, but Israel has indicated it would not accept Turkish troops on the ground.

UN vote and international reactions

The Security Council approved the US-sponsored text by a 13-0 vote, while Russia and China abstained. Both countries raised objections to the lack of Palestinian participation in planning the force and to the limited formal role assigned to the United Nations in Gaza’s long-term future. Russia had earlier circulated its own draft, which asked the UN secretary-general to participate in identifying options and contributors for an international stabilisation force; that draft did not reference the US proposal’s so-called "board of peace."

Key uncertainties and implications

Major questions remain about how the ISF would operate in practice: how it would coordinate with Israel and Egypt, how a new Palestinian police force would be formed and overseen (the resolution specifies it would not operate under Hamas or the Palestinian Authority), how the UN would be involved going forward, and whether willing troop contributors would accept the political and operational constraints involved.

Critics, including some Palestinian representatives and regional actors, have framed the plan as imposing an "international guardianship mechanism" on Gaza because it was drafted without direct Palestinian input. Supporters argue the ISF could provide a framework for stabilisation, civilian protection and a path to rebuilding.

Inside Israel, the resolution prompted debate: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his intention to see Hamas disarmed, while opposition figures criticised the government’s handling of the diplomatic fallout. The situation on the ground remained volatile after the vote, with continued air strikes reported in parts of Gaza.

Bottom line: The ISF is a proposed multinational security contingent meant to help demilitarise Gaza, protect civilians and aid operations, and train a new Palestinian police force — but its composition, mandate, and the extent of UN involvement are still contested and unclear.