The International Stabilization Force, as part of President Trump’s ceasefire plans for Gaza, is set to be deployed by the US in the beginning of 2026.
However only one or two countries will have troops in Gaza for now, and one of those countries is Turkey – which Israel strongly opposes.
Here’s more from Newsmax:
Amid reports that the United States plans to advance the ceasefire in Gaza to its second phase before the end of the year, a U.S. official told The Jerusalem Post on Tuesday night that the International Stabilization Force (ISF), which is an integral part of the plans for this phase, will be sent to Gaza at the start of 2026.
Addressing a key concern of countries weighing whether to send troops, the official said the ISF “will not be deployed in areas controlled by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.”
He added that the force is currently planned to comprise troops from one or two countries, while more countries could potentially join in the future.
The official’s statements contradict demands made by Israel and could raise further tensions ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s planned trip to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump after Christmas.
Netanyahu recently noted that, under the current plans, the ISF will not be able to carry out its “main” mission, which, from the Israeli perspective, is the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip.
However, potential countries that could send troops have balked at the idea of clashing with Hamas terrorists in the enclave, and while some have signaled they are considering sending troops, no country has expressed a public commitment – except Turkey, whose involvement, Netanyahu said, would be a “red line.”
On Tuesday, Turkish media cited security sources announcing that the military had completed training the troops it intends to send to Gaza.
“We have no problem with the troops being sent to Gaza to join the ISF. The Americans also very much want us there, while Israel opposes it. The Americans are pressuring Israel to have Turkish troops [as part of the force],” the sources were cited as saying.
Last month, Kan News reported that Turkey was still hoping Israel would eventually allow its troops to participate in the ISF.
I get why Israel doesn’t want Turkish troops there, because Sultan Erdogan’s Turkey has been a great friend to Hamas in the past. So it doesn’t look great based on this reporting for the stabilization force to succeed, but we’ll see what Trump works out. And whether he forces Netanyahu’s hand when it comes to Turkish troops in Gaza.