Israel Approves 200-Person Gaza Force Under Trump's Plan as Netanyahu Heads to Washington
Updated
Updated · Haaretz · Jul 26
Israel Approves 200-Person Gaza Force Under Trump's Plan as Netanyahu Heads to Washington
3 articles · Updated · Haaretz · Jul 26
Summary
Israel's security cabinet cleared a pilot deployment of about 200 peacekeeping personnel into a limited Rafah area, opening the way for Trump's Board of Peace to begin operating in Gaza.
The move comes a day before Benjamin Netanyahu's Washington trip and is meant to show progress to Donald Trump, whose backing Israeli officials see as important ahead of an election.
IDF chief Eyal Zamir ordered preparations for foreign forces from Morocco and Kosovo, but only in areas under full Israeli operational control and with case-by-case approval from Netanyahu, the defense minister and foreign minister.
The cabinet also approved two temporary residential zones for displaced Palestinians, including one in the Orange Zone for tens of thousands, while Palestinian police trained in Egypt would police camps with batons and tasers, not live weapons.
Security officials said implementation could take months and may not change Gaza's strategic reality, with Hamas still armed and uncertainty over who would control security in the pilot area.
With Israel expanding military bases and Hamas refusing to disarm, is the new stabilization force walking into a deadly, inescapable trap?
Billions are pledged for Gaza's reconstruction, but with empty funds and shifting borders, who truly profits from this controversial privatization of peace?