Trump Planning to Appoint US General to Lead Gaza's 'International Force'

The Axios website revealed on Thursday that US President Donald Trump is planning to appoint an American general to lead the planned international stabilization force in the Gaza Strip.

Details of the US Plan:

• US Leadership: Two Israeli officials told Axios that Washington's Ambassador to the UN, Mike Waltz, informed Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials that the Trump administration would take the lead in commanding the security force through the appointment of a two-star US Major General.

• Confirmation vs. Caveat: Two US officials confirmed the plan, but a White House official emphasized that "no final decisions have been made or announced."

Scope and US Responsibility:

• Major Project: Axios suggests that appointing a US general will increase the US responsibility for securing and rebuilding Gaza, potentially making it the largest US political-civil-military project in the Middle East in over two decades.

• Project Components:

  • Command Structure: The US will lead the security forces in the Strip. Trump is expected to head a "Gaza Peace Council," with his senior advisors serving on an international executive council.

  • Coordination: The US has already established a civil-military headquarters in Israel to monitor the ceasefire and coordinate humanitarian aid.

  • Reconstruction: The US is leading the planning efforts for Gaza's reconstruction.

• No Boots on the Ground: White House officials stressed that there will be no US military presence on the ground in Gaza.