Israel approves entry of International Stabilization Force into Gaza

The Israeli security cabinet has voted to approve the entry of the International Stabilization Force (ISF) into Gaza, advancing a key component of the US-backed peace plan for the enclave despite opposition from a far-right minister .

The decision, announced on Sunday, paves the way for the deployment of a multinational force under the Board of Peace (BoP) plan, which was endorsed by the UN Security Council in November 2025 . The ISF is intended to oversee security and support reconstruction efforts in the war-torn territory .

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir was the sole dissenting voice in the cabinet vote . According to Israeli media, Ben-Gvir argued that Hamas has failed to meet its commitments to demilitarize and disarm, meaning Israel is not obligated to proceed with the plan . He reportedly advocated for encouraging the migration of Palestinians out of Gaza as an alternative solution .

Following the approval, a senior Israeli official outlined key conditions for the ISF’s operation. The force will receive legal immunity under Israeli law and will operate in “full coordination” with the Israeli military in areas outside the military’s control zones .

Stringent conditions have also been placed on which nations can contribute troops. The security cabinet decided that only countries that maintain diplomatic relations with Israel and do not act against it in international forums will be eligible to participate . This clause reportedly excludes nations like Indonesia, which had previously shown interest . The initial force is expected to comprise approximately 200 personnel from “friendly” nations such as Uganda and Morocco .

Israeli officials have further stressed that the military will continue to hold the “yellow line” demarcating its controlled areas in Gaza and will not withdraw further unless Hamas is fully disarmed and the Strip is demilitarized . The ISF deployment is part of a scaled-back pilot project initially focused on a humanitarian zone near Rafah in southern Gaza .