Egypt to lead Gaza stabilization mission with UN Security Council backing, media say

Egypt is set to head an international stabilization force for Gaza with UN Security Council support, while Indonesia and Azerbaijan may contribute troops, according to the Guardian and Times of Israel.

Red Cross workers arrive at the site where members of the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Hamas movement, are searching for the bodies of Israeli hostages in an area in Hamad City, Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, 17 October 2025.

Photo: EPA/HAITHAM IMAD

Egypt will take command of planned stabilization forces in the Gaza Strip, with backing from the UN Security Council (UNSC), the Guardian reported on Saturday, citing diplomatic sources. The United States and European countries support a forthcoming UNSC decision granting the mission broad authorities, the paper said.

Washington aims for the contingent not to carry a formal UN peacekeeping label but to operate under arrangements similar to the multinational deployment sent to Haiti to combat armed gangs, according to the Guardian.

Azerbaijan has agreed to send troops to Gaza as part of the mission, three sources told the Times of Israel, though authorities in Baku have not confirmed this. Indonesia is the only country to have publicly said it would participate if the mission receives a UN mandate, the outlet added.

A White House official said this week that the force is already taking shape and that the United States is in talks with Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Qatar and Azerbaijan. Previous media reports said Turkey had also expressed readiness to contribute, though it is unclear whether Israel would agree given strained ties. The United States plans to deploy about 200 personnel to support the effort from inside Israel rather than on Palestinian territory, according to those reports.

Establishing an International Stabilization Force (ISF) is a key element of the second stage of a truce arrangement in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Fighting was halted on Oct. 10, launching the first phase of the agreement.

The second phase also envisions Hamas laying down arms, transferring governance in Gaza to a temporary Palestinian administration, and creating new police units to be trained and supported by the ISF. Details remain under negotiation. Hamas representatives have repeatedly said they could yield governing authority but would not disarm.

The Wall Street Journal reported in late August that Egypt is training hundreds of Palestinians for a new Gaza police force expected to number about 10,000 officers.

(jh)

Source: Polskie Radio 24