The US Central Command Central Command (CENTCOM) led a summit in Doha, on 16 December, with around 45 countries to discuss setting up an international stabilisation force in Gaza to monitor a ceasefire with Hamas. The summit was held without Israeli participation.
Washington asked countries to clarify what support they could provide – military, financial, or logistical – with a follow-up meeting scheduled for January.
Western diplomats participating in the summit – from which Turkey was excluded at Israel’s request – said that even after the Doha meeting, the structure of the international force remains unclear, and the US is still assessing which countries are willing to join.
During the meeting, Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported, European Union representatives suggested that the US expand its training of Palestinian police officers in the West Bank to also include those who will serve in Gaza as part of the security force.
Potential countries that could send personnel to Gaza as part of the stabilisation force include Indonesia, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
Italy has expressed readiness to send troops to Gaza, but this is likely to be limited to training only, without deploying forces in the territory.
Italy is taking a leading role in training and in managing the police presence at the Rafah crossing. Meanwhile, the US is holding talks with 15 to 20 countries about providing support to this force.
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