Israel Approves First 250 Troops for Gaza International Stabilization Force

Israel has authorised the United States to deploy an initial force of about 250 foreign troops in Gaza, the first concrete step toward putting international boots on the ground under the Gaza International Stabilization Force. The approval, reported on Monday, November 9, 2026, moves the long-discussed force from planning documents into a real deployment, with American soldiers already turning a former Israeli army base near the Gaza border into a fortified hub for the mission.

The decision is the most tangible progress yet for the force envisaged under the 20-point Gaza peace plan, which calls for a multinational presence to secure the territory, oversee disarmament and allow reconstruction. Until now, the force has existed mainly on paper.

Key Points

• Israel has authorised the US to deploy an initial multinational force of about 250 foreign troops in Gaza, Israeli security officials told the Walla news site on Monday.
• US military personnel have converted a former Israeli army base near the Gaza border into a fortified facility with reinforced fencing, guard towers, surveillance equipment and lighting.
• Armed US soldiers are providing round-the-clock security at the base, in the area of the IDF Gaza Division's Southern Brigade.
• Indonesia, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Uganda and Albania have expressed willingness to take part in the International Stabilization Force, backed by the Board of Peace.
• The first contingent is expected to guard the area around a planned new city on part of the ruins of Rafah, but no deployment timeline has been set.

What Happened

The Israeli government has authorised Washington to deploy the first 250 foreign troops in Gaza, according to Israeli security officials cited by the Walla news site on Monday. The approval covers an initial multinational contingent that would operate under the International Stabilization Force, known as the ISF.

Preparations on the ground are already well advanced. US military personnel have converted a former Israeli army base near the Gaza border, in the area of the IDF Gaza Division's Southern Brigade, into a fortified facility. The site now has reinforced fencing, guard towers, surveillance equipment and lighting, and armed US soldiers are providing round-the-clock security there.

Foreign military officers accompanied by US troops have been spotted near the Gaza border over the past two weeks. A logistics and staging facility, LSA Endurance, has been established near Kerem Shalom to support the force.

Background and Context

The International Stabilization Force is a central element of the 20-point Gaza peace plan, which calls for Hamas to disarm, Gaza to be demilitarised, weapons to be placed under international supervision, a Palestinian technocratic government to take over administration, and a phased Israeli withdrawal tied to reconstruction. President Donald Trump pressed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a November 5 phone call to take concrete steps on the plan now that Israel's October 27 elections are over.

The Board of Peace presented a $2.45 billion six-month Gaza recovery programme at the United Nations General Assembly in September. Tony Blair, a senior Board of Peace member, visited Israel on November 7 and met Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot, tapped that day to form a government. A senior US official has said reconstruction will not begin without verified progress toward disarming Hamas.

Conditions inside Gaza remain severe: the first winter storm has already flooded tens of thousands of tents sheltering displaced Palestinians, underlining the urgency of a security arrangement that would allow reconstruction to begin.

Gaza International Stabilization Force

Six countries have so far expressed willingness to take part in the force: Indonesia, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Uganda and Albania. Their contributions would form the core of the initial contingent, with the United States providing the logistics, staging and security backbone from its fortified base near the border.

The first troops are expected to guard the area around a planned new city to be built on part of the ruins of Rafah, in southern Gaza. The city project is intended as an early, visible piece of reconstruction, but it can only proceed once the area is secured and the force is in place.

One obstacle is still unresolved. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been pressing for Turkey to join the force, a move Israel opposes. That dispute is among the factors delaying the formation of the full force, and it has not yet been settled, even as the first 250 troops have been authorised.

Reactions and Positions

Israel's authorisation signals that, despite its scepticism about whether Hamas will ever demilitarise, the government is prepared to let the international force take its first step on the ground. Netanyahu has said Hamas is reconstituting and rearming, and Israel has insisted that disarmament must be verified before reconstruction can proceed.

For the countries volunteering troops, the deployment tests whether the international community can sustain a presence in Gaza after years of war.

Turkey's push to join remains the most visible point of friction. Ankara's participation would broaden the force's regional character, but Israel's opposition has kept the question open, and no resolution has been reported.

Why It Matters

The authorisation turns the International Stabilization Force from a diplomatic concept into a physical presence. Without troops on the ground, the peace plan's core promises — disarmament under international supervision, a technocratic government and reconstruction — cannot begin. The first 250 troops are a small number, but they establish the force's foothold and the logistics chain behind it.

It also tests the fragile political balance around Gaza: Israel must accept foreign troops in territory it controls, the US must sustain a military hub on the border, and contributing countries must accept the risks of deploying where Hamas has not yet disarmed.

What Happens Next

No deployment timeline has been set. The next steps depend on how quickly contributing countries finalise troop commitments and how the dispute over Turkey is resolved. The Kerem Shalom staging facility is in place and the fortified US base is operational, so logistics for the first contingent are largely ready.

Attention will now turn to whether the initial force can be expanded beyond 250 troops, whether Hamas cooperates with disarmament, and whether the planned new city at Rafah can move from proposal to construction.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many troops will deploy first in Gaza?
About 250 foreign troops in an initial multinational contingent, authorised by Israel on Monday, November 9, 2026.

What is the International Stabilization Force?
The ISF is the multinational force envisaged under the 20-point Gaza peace plan to secure Gaza, oversee disarmament and create conditions for reconstruction, backed by the Board of Peace.

Which countries have offered troops?
Indonesia, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Uganda and Albania have expressed willingness to take part.

Where will the first troops be based?
They are expected to guard the area around a planned new city on part of the ruins of Rafah, supported by a US logistics and staging facility near Kerem Shalom.

When will the troops arrive?
No deployment timeline has been set, and formation of the full force is still being delayed in part by the dispute over Turkey's participation.

Related coverage: Trump presses Netanyahu to advance Gaza peace plan after Israel election and Gaza flooding: first winter storm floods 70,000 tents of displaced Palestinians.