Two US officials told Reuters news agency that international forces could be deployed to the Gaza Strip as early as next month to form a UN-mandated stabilization force, although the methods for disarming Hamas remain unclear. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, explained that the International Stabilization Force (ISF) will not be tasked with fighting Hamas, and that a large number of countries have expressed interest in participating. Reuters quoted the sources as saying that Washington is currently working to determine the force's size, composition, housing, training, and rules of engagement. They also indicated that Washington is considering appointing a US brigadier general to lead the force, but no final decisions have been made yet. The deployment of international forces is a cornerstone of the second phase of the peace plan announced by US President Donald Trump for Gaza, following a fragile ceasefire in the two-year war that began on October 10, which saw Hamas release hostages and Israel release Palestinian prisoners. White House spokeswoman Caroline Levitt said: "There is a lot of quiet planning behind the scenes for this phase."
