Israel to allow international force into Gaza: Official

What the report says

CNA, citing Reuters, reported that Israel will permit a multinational security mission to enter Gaza under US President Donald Trump’s ceasefire framework, according to an Israeli official. The official said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet approved the legal basis for the deployment on Sunday, Jul 26, before Netanyahu’s planned trip to Washington on Monday and expected meeting with Trump on Tuesday.

The proposed mission, named the International Stabilization Force, would have 200 personnel from what the Israeli official described as friendly countries, including Uganda and Morocco. The forces would operate in parts of Gaza that are not under Israeli control, but each national contingent would still need separate Israeli approval. The official did not provide a deployment date.

The reported decision comes as Trump’s Gaza plan remains largely stalled. CNA reported that the plan followed an October ceasefire agreement and called for expanded humanitarian aid, Israeli withdrawals, Hamas disarmament and a civilian administration run by Palestinian technocrats. That body, known as the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, has not entered the territory. Gaza remains devastated after two years of war that began with the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on Oct 7, 2023.

CNA also reported that Israel controls about 64 per cent of Gaza, while most of the roughly 2 million residents are concentrated along the coast in harsh conditions. Hamas has not agreed to disarm, and Israel has said it intends to expand its control to 70 per cent of the enclave. Nickolay Mladenov, Trump’s Board of Peace envoy for Gaza, welcomed Israel’s move, calling the force an important element of the stabilization and transitional administration framework.