Egypt set to lead global stabilisation force in Gaza amid post-conflict security efforts

Diplomats say Egypt is poised to head a planned international stabilisation force in Gaza, a move aimed at enforcing security and curbing violence in the aftermath of the latest conflict.

The initiative, backed by European and US members of the UN Security Council, is expected to grant the force robust powers to operate inside Gaza, though it will not constitute a traditional UN peacekeeping mission.

The United States is advocating for a mandate that allows the force to operate with authority akin to international troops deployed in Haiti to combat armed gangs, giving it broad operational latitude without full UN oversight.

“The goal is to stabilise Gaza quickly while ensuring the force can respond to security threats independently,” a diplomat involved in the planning told Middle East Eye.

Egypt, long a key mediator in Israeli-Palestinian affairs, is expected to provide the leadership and bulk of personnel. Other prospective troop contributors include Turkey, Indonesia and Azerbaijan, though the final composition is still under consultation with Cairo.

The international stabilisation force would be tasked with leading the implementation of security measures, including disarmament efforts, while Israel maintains a controlled buffer zone along its borders.

While European and British combat troops are not expected to participate directly, the UK has deployed advisers to a US-run operational cell inside Israel, which is helping coordinate the second phase of the 20-point plan developed by President Donald Trump, Reuters reported.

British officials emphasise that the ultimate objective remains a unified Palestinian state, encompassing Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem.

The proposed force would assume lead responsibility over Palestinian police units that Britain has been training, effectively centralising security oversight under an international umbrella. This development could allow Israel to gradually withdraw from parts of Gaza, though Israeli authorities insist they will maintain a substantial presence along the border to deter future Hamas attacks.

A central challenge for the force will be managing the disarmament of Hamas. A senior British diplomat admitted to Middle East Eye that the process would be “the most difficult aspect” of the mission, noting lessons from Northern Ireland’s decommissioning of IRA and loyalist weapons could provide a blueprint. Independent verification and strict compliance mechanisms are expected to be key components.

Hamas has already signalled its reluctance to relinquish arms entirely. A senior official told Reuters, “Hamas aims to keep its grip on Gaza’s security and cannot commit to disarmament at this stage.” The standoff highlights the delicate balancing act the international force will face: maintaining order while negotiating a sensitive political settlement.

If successfully implemented, analysts say, the UN-backed stabilisation effort could mark a significant post-war shift in Gaza, moving security control away from both US and Israeli hands and establishing a model for international intervention in fragile urban conflict zones. The Arab Weekly notes that such a deployment could also enhance Egypt’s regional influence, positioning Cairo as a key arbiter in future Israeli-Palestinian affairs.

However, the operation faces inherent risks. According to Northeastern University’s assessment of international stabilisation missions, forces operating in dense urban environments often confront both insurgent attacks and local resistance, and coordination between multinational contingents can be challenging. Diplomats emphasise that the success of the Gaza force will depend not just on troop strength but also on local political buy-in, careful intelligence sharing, and credible mechanisms for enforcing disarmament.

As discussions continue at the UN and among prospective troop-contributing countries, the international stabilisation force in Gaza is shaping up as a high-stakes test of diplomacy, regional leadership, and multilateral coordination in one of the world’s most volatile territories.