Plans to deploy an international stabilization force in Gaza are facing significant setbacks, with organizers struggling to deploy an initial team of just 10 to 20 personnel, far below the 20,000 troops envisioned under U.S. President Donald Trump's post-war Gaza plan, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.
The report, citing a U.S. military official and people familiar with the plan, said the multinational force has yet to achieve the large-scale deployment originally expected. Moroccan troops, intended to form part of the first deployment wave, were scheduled to arrive in June but have been delayed and are now expected to deploy in the coming months.
Initially, Moroccan forces will train at facilities inside Israel near the Gaza border before carrying out limited operations inside the enclave. Additional international contingents are expected to join later.
The plan called for a phased peace process that would end the war, establish an international stabilization force, and transfer Gaza's administration to a Palestinian technocratic council after Hamas is disarmed. However, progress has stalled as Hamas has expressed willingness to hand over civilian governance without committing to disarmament, while Israeli military operations continue.
The report also noted that reconstruction efforts have yet to begin on a meaningful scale, and much of the pledged funding has not been delivered. Several countries have delayed or suspended participation in the force due to regional instability, particularly following the conflict involving Iran.
Indonesia, once considered one of the largest potential contributors, suspended discussions about sending peacekeepers, while Albania, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, and Morocco are reportedly moving toward formal participation commitments.
According to the report, the force will begin with a gradual deployment centered on two main sites: a logistics hub near the Kerem Shalom crossing inside Israel and a future support base inside Gaza. Together, the facilities are expected to accommodate up to 5,500 personnel once completed.
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