2025-12-16 07:04
publication
2025-12-16 07:04
US President Donald Trump said on Monday that the International Stabilization Force in Gaza is “already operational in some form.” He added that the countries that are to participate in them “will send as many soldiers as requested.” He noted that Hamas announced that it would voluntarily disarm.
Trump thus responded to a journalist's question about the status of preparations of the international forces that would be established under the American peace plan, and which would maintain order in the Gaza Strip and ensure the disarmament of Hamas.
– I think they already exist, in some form. This is already very strong, but it will get stronger and more countries will join in. They will send any number of soldiers I ask them for. They want peace, Trump said.
– We have over 59 countries. We have many countries that are not even in the Middle East, but are quite close to it. They want to get involved. This is amazing, he added. Trump recalled Hamas' declarations that it would disarm, although he added that “we will see if it turns out to be true.”
Contrary to Trump's assurances, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) wrote on Saturday that the US is having “great difficulty in persuading countries to send troops on a stabilization mission to Gaza.” Trump's plan assumes the creation of an international force of 10,000. people. According to WSJ, so far no country has declared its readiness to send its soldiers, including: due to concerns for their safety due to the disarmament of Hamas. According to the daily, two countries are closest to making a decision on this matter – Azerbaijan and Indonesia, but they want a so-called narrow mandate that will not expose their military to violent operations.
“Some U.S. officials hope to secure commitments for as many as 5,000 troops early next year and increase the number to 10,000 by the end of 2026. Others say the force will likely never number more than 8,000 troops, far fewer than U.S. officials plan to recruit,” the newspaper wrote.
The deployment of international forces in the Gaza Strip is part of the second phase of Trump's plan. According to Axios, the US president intends to announce the start of the second phase before Christmas. It also assumes the establishment of new, temporary authorities, supervised by the Peace Council. It is to be headed by Trump himself, and will also include the leaders of 10 Arab and Western countries.
On Monday, the US president denied Axios reports that he “reprimanded” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for attacking one of Hamas commanders last weekend. However, when asked whether this was a violation of the ceasefire, the US president said he was “looking into it.”
From Washington Oskar Górzyński (PAP)
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