Washington / Istanbul / Islamabad, November 4, 2025: The United States is seeking approval from the United Nations for the creation of an International Security Force (ISF) in Gaza, with a proposed two-year mandate aimed at stabilising the enclave and overseeing its transition to local governance, Axios reported on Tuesday.
According to the report, Washington circulated a draft UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution to member states on Monday outlining plans for the force, which would operate under US leadership until at least the end of 2027, with the possibility of extension.
The proposed ISF would be established “in consultation with the Gaza Board of Peace,” a transitional governing body to be chaired by US President Donald Trump, and would have authority “to use all necessary measures” to fulfil its mandate under international law.
The force would be tasked with securing Gaza’s borders with Israel and Egypt, protecting civilians and humanitarian corridors, and training a new Palestinian police force to eventually take over law enforcement responsibilities.
It would also oversee the demilitarisation of the Gaza Strip, including the dismantling of militant infrastructure and the decommissioning of weapons from non-state armed groups — a clause seen as a direct reference to Hamas.
A US official told Axios that the ISF would be “an enforcement force, not a peacekeeping force,” adding that Washington hopes to secure a vote on the resolution within weeks and begin deploying troops by January 2026.
The Board of Peace, envisaged as a transitional administration, would supervise a technocratic Palestinian committee responsible for day-to-day civil administration in Gaza.
Aid delivery would be coordinated through the UN, Red Cross, and Red Crescent, while any organisation found misusing humanitarian aid would be banned, the draft said.
The ISF’s creation forms a key pillar of the US-brokered Gaza Peace Agreement, which paved the way for the October 10 ceasefire that ended nearly two years of intense conflict. The ceasefire, however, has come under strain from renewed Israeli airstrikes in recent days.
The peace accord was jointly facilitated by eight Muslim countries — Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, Turkiye, and Indonesia — in coordination with the Trump administration.
Foreign ministers from seven of these nations met in Istanbul on Monday, where they reaffirmed their support for a UN-mandated security framework to ensure Gaza’s stability and governance by Palestinians.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said the ISF would require a UNSC-approved mandate “free from vetoes” to ensure international legitimacy.
“The countries we’ve spoken with will decide whether to send troops based on the ISF’s mandate and authority,” Fidan told reporters.
In Islamabad, senior government officials confirmed that high-level consultations are underway regarding Pakistan’s potential participation in the proposed Gaza mission.
According to insiders, Pakistan is inclined to join the force only if it operates under a UN mandate, a position similar to those expressed by Germany and Jordan.
A formal announcement on Islamabad’s role is expected once the UNSC discussions advance.
