Khaberni - Informed sources revealed to the US news site "Axios" that Washington is working on finalizing a plan aimed at establishing an international security force to be deployed in the Gaza Strip, amid intense consultations with a number of countries.
An American official told the site that the US Central Command is drafting the plan, which includes forming a new Palestinian police force that will undergo training and vetting by the United States, Egypt, and Jordan, along with military contributions from other countries.
According to sources, Indonesia, Azerbaijan, Egypt, and Turkey have expressed their willingness to participate in the proposed force.
The site quoted one of the planners as saying, "If there is no reliable security system and governance in Gaza that is approved by Israel, we will find ourselves in a situation where the latter is subject to repeated attacks."
A senior American official added that Washington aims to avoid a return of military escalation, noting that Israeli forces will remain part of the security equation, but "there should be no rush to involve them."
He said, “It is better to move cautiously and do things right, because we will not get a second chance."
Another official noted that Israel feels tense and out of control, adding, "We told the Israelis: let’s first create the right conditions, then see if Hamas is serious about its commitments."
The sources confirmed that Turkey has expressed its willingness to participate, despite Israel's opposition to any Turkish military presence in Gaza.
However, Washington sees the involvement of Turkey, alongside Egypt and Qatar, as necessary because they are the parties best able to communicate with Hamas and "push them to act responsibly," according to a U.S. official.
Advisers close to US President Donald Trump believe it is important "not to give Hamas an excuse to reject the plan," even though they recognize that the movement might not accept it, according to "Axios."
If Hamas rejects, the process might start with the deployment of Israeli forces in southern Gaza, an area not controlled by the movement, aiming to establish a safe zone to pave the way for a reconstruction phase.
The sources confirmed that Washington has made significant progress in preparing a draft resolution for the United Nations Security Council that supports the establishment of the security force, to be used as a "legal mandate" allowing countries to contribute forces.
However, the sources clarified that the resolution will not transform the force into a UN mission, but it will remain under the supervision of the United States, which will oversee its operations and influence its decisions.
Decisive decisions regarding the formation of the force are expected to be made in the coming days, to be presented to Israel and the potential participating countries in the coming weeks.
