Egypt may lead Gaza stabilization force under UN-backed plan

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: The Guardian
18 Oct 2025 16:02
1 Shares

Egypt is expected to lead a Gaza stabilisation force under a UN-backed plan supported by the US and Europe, with a focus on post-war security and reconstruction.

Listen

People gather to greet freed Palestinian prisoners as they arrive in the Gaza Strip after their release from Israeli jails under a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel, outside Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Monday, October 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

Diplomatic sources said, according to The Guardian, that Egypt is expected to lead a planned Gaza stabilization force under a new US- and European-backed United Nations Security Council initiative. The proposal, still being finalized, aims to give international forces strong powers to oversee security inside Gaza, without the formal structure of a traditional UN peacekeeping mission.

The United States is pushing for a UN mandate modeled after the one used in Haiti, where foreign troops operated with authority to suppress armed groups.

According to The Guardian, under current drafts, Egypt would take the lead in the stabilization mission, with support from Turkey, Indonesia, and Azerbaijan as key troop contributors, but Egypt is reportedly still weighing whether to support a full UN-led operation.

European and British forces are not expected to take part in deployments, but the UK has sent advisors to a US-led planning cell currently operating inside "Israel" to oversee implementation of the second phase of US President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan for Gaza.

International troops to be given strong security mandate

The proposed force would be tasked with handling security in post-war Gaza, with Palestinian police forces trained by the UK supporting efforts on the ground. Under the current proposal, international forces would take the lead, with local institutions gradually assuming responsibility.

"Israel" has insisted on maintaining a buffer zone inside Gaza even after withdrawal, citing concerns over future attacks from Hamas.

Western diplomats, according to The Guardian, said that decommissioning Hamas weapons is likely to be the most complex aspect of the stabilization plan. UK officials have proposed using the Northern Ireland peace process as a model, involving independent verification of disarmament.

The sources believe that the Palestinian Resistance may only hand over weapons to a Palestinian-led body to avoid perceptions of surrender, though third-party verification could be used to satisfy "Israel". However, officials from the Resistance have repeatedly stated that disarmament is out of the question.

Blair tipped for role in Trump’s Gaza peace plan

The UK is backing former English Prime Minister Tony Blair for a role on a newly proposed Board of Peace, part of Trump’s broader Gaza strategy. The board would oversee a committee of 15 Palestinian technocrats and be chaired by Trump himself.

Blair’s position is expected to be confirmed by mid-November, when Egypt hosts a Gaza reconstruction conference in Cairo. The UK estimates that over $67 billion will be needed, requiring not only Gulf state support but also private sector investment.

Hamas has raised concerns about foreign control over Gaza, with a senior member of the movement, Mohammad Nazzal, previously stating, "We cannot allow the Gaza Strip to return to the old colonial idea of having a high commissioner to govern ... The Palestinian people have the skills and capabilities to do without high-level envoys ... we reject the idea of an international trusteeship over the Gaza Strip."

But despite Hamas' rejection, the PA agreed to Blaire's presence in Gaza to help "stabilize the ceasefire."

Next week, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is expected to issue a ruling condemning "Israel" for cutting ties with UN aid agencies, particularly UNRWA, the UN’s main relief body for Palestinians.

The case, initially brought by Norway, will allow ICJ judges to reaffirm that "Israel", as an occupying force, holds a legal duty to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza, a duty it has failed to uphold.