Trump Hopes an International Force Will Be Deployed to Gaza Very Soon

An international force will be deployed to war-torn Gaza very soon as part of a ceasefire agreement, President Donald Trump said on Thursday at an event at the White House.

Speaking at a meeting with leaders from Central Asia, he said the deployment is “going to happen very soon” and that the situation in Gaza is progressing well.

Trump added, “You don’t hear much about Gaza right now. If there are problems with the Palestinian armed group Hamas, strong countries have voluntarily stepped forward.”

Al Jazeera reports that Trump’s remarks came just as the United Nations Security Council was preparing to discuss a draft resolution that would authorize a two-year mandate for an interim administration and a stabilization force for Gaza.

The international force in Gaza would be responsible for ensuring the safety of civilians, securing border areas, and training the Palestinian police. Troops from Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates are expected to be part of that international contingent.

A Reuters report said the draft resolution seen by several states would allow a stabilization force of 20,000 troops to “take all necessary measures” to implement its mandate—in other words, the international force would have the authority to use force in Gaza.

It is not yet known whether Hamas will disarm under Trump’s 20-point plan. However, the international force’s tasks in Gaza would include degrading Hamas’s capabilities and destroying its “offensive infrastructure,” and preventing Hamas from participating in reconstruction.