Israeli officials rebuke possibility of 'official UN force' monitoring Gaza ceasefire - Amichai Stein

 

by Amichai Stein

The United Nations and countries set to be involved in the force have not yet decided what responsibilities the force may have, nor how those responsibilities will be carried out.

 

A vehicle of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is pictured amid ongoing efforts to assess damage and plan reconstruction in Gaza following the Israel-Hamas War, in Gaza City, October 16, 2025

(photo credit: REUTERS)

 

Big disputes persist regarding the United Nations Security Council mandate set to be granted to an international force that is expected to enter the Gaza Strip as part of the Donald Trump-brokered Israel-Gaza ceasefire plan, according to several sources familiar with the details who spoke to The Jerusalem Post.

The core disagreement centers on the question: under what authority and powers will the international force operate? Arab states want the force to be established under Chapters VI and VII of the UN Charter, which would make it an official UN force in every respect. "This means the UN Blue helmets will be on the ground", a source told the Post.

Israel, however, is wary of the precedent that would be set by deploying an official UN force in an Israeli–Palestinian conflict zone. Israel therefore prefers that the force not be designated as an “official UN force,” but rather that there simply be a Security Council resolution approving its deployment and oversight.

Significant disagreements regarding the force’s powers

“What is the mandate of security forces inside Gaza? We hope that it is peacekeeping, because if it’s peace-enforcing, nobody will want to touch that,” said Jordan’s King Abdullah in an exclusive interview with BBC Panorama. Jordan, along with other Arab states, wants the force to maintain peace without direct confrontation with any side.

The Trump plan, however, envisions the international force also taking responsibility for disarming Gaza and demilitarizing Hamas, a task several Arab countries currently refuse to undertake. “Arab states will not enter Gaza and start clashing with a terrorist organization,” a source familiar with the discussions told the Post. “They are willing to maintain calm, but not to carry out the operations Israel wants the force to perform.”

Palestinian Ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour (L) takes his seat at the start of a United Nations Security Council meeting on Gaza and the Middle East, at UN headquarters in New York City on March 18, 2025. (credit: ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images))

Another issue concerns the role of the Palestinian Authority (PA) within this force. While Arab countries want the PA to take part, suggesting that Palestinian police officers be integrated into the mission, Israel is far less enthusiastic about giving the PA an active role in Gaza. “In the end, Israel may have no choice and could be forced to agree to the inclusion of Palestinians who are not formally part of the PA in the force,” another source familiar with the matter told The Post.

The international force is expected to include troops from Azerbaijan, Indonesia, Pakistan, and other countries, though the composition has not yet been finalized. Behind the scenes, discussions are underway among senior Israeli and American officials, as well as representatives from France, the UK, and various Arab nations.

Part of the debate centers on whether the Security Council resolution authorizing the force will include the full Trump plan, not just the issue of the international force.

The discussions continue, with the US attempting to bridge the gaps. “On one hand, the US understands Israel’s position, but it also wants to move forward with the establishment of the force as quickly as possible,” said a source familiar with the matter. Israel fears that at some point, Washington may pressure it to show flexibility. “From the American perspective, setting up this force is crucial to the Trump plan- and it’s possible that at a later stage, the president will pressure Netanyahu to compromise.”

Amichai Stein

Source: https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-871853

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