Washington Reveals List of Nations Potentially Contributing to "International Stabilization Force" in Gaza (Including Egypt and Qatar)

The United States revealed on Saturday an initial list of nations that have expressed interest in contributing to the deployment of an "international stabilization force" in the Gaza Strip. The list included two Arab countries: Qatar and Egypt.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, en route from Israel to Qatar, stated that "several countries" are interested in joining the force but require more details regarding the mission and the rules of engagement.

Candidate Countries and International Mandate

Rubio indicated that the United States is holding direct talks with:

• Qatar

• Egypt

• Turkey

He also confirmed interest from:

• Indonesia

• Azerbaijan

Rubio stressed that an international mandate is essential to enable broader participation, explaining that "many countries that want to be a part of it cannot do so without one." This suggests the US may call for a United Nations resolution to support the force.

Information Sharing to Thwart Threats

In another context, Rubio affirmed that Israel, the US, and other ceasefire mediators in Gaza are exchanging information to thwart any threats, and this cooperation allowed them to identify a potential imminent attack last weekend.

The US State Department had reported a week prior that it had "credible reports" that Hamas "might violate the ceasefire with an attack on Palestinian civilians in Gaza." Rubio said: "We sent a message through the State Department, and we sent it to our mediators as well, about an imminent attack, and it didn't happen. So the goal here is ultimately to identify the threat before it occurs."