Gaza International Stabilization Force (ISF): Six Countries Pledged Troops, but Deployment Remains Stalled

United States — U.S. military personnel will not deploy into Gaza itself but will facilitate humanitarian, logistical, and security assistance from international counterparts .

First deployment target — initially planned for early 2026, then pushed to May 1, 2026, centered around a new UAE-built city near Rafah . As of late May 2026, no significant troop contributions had materialized on the ground .

Current Status: A Force in Name Only

By May 2026 — three months after the pledges — none of the five committing countries had delivered significant numbers of troops, and General Jeffers still had no deployable force . The biggest blow came when Indonesia put its commitment of 8,000 troops on indefinite hold after the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, 2026 . Conflicting messaging from U.S. officials has added confusion about the ISF's scope, timing, and viability .

The ISF Commander stated the long-term vision includes 20,000 soldiers and 12,000 police officers operating across five sectors, but these remain aspirational targets . As one analysis put it, "early enthusiasm among potential contributors has evaporated" as the specifics and objectives of the ISF mission have not been clarified .

Key Challenges

1. Hamas's Refusal to Disarm

This is the single biggest blocker. The Board of Peace's first six-month progress report, submitted to the UN Security Council in May 2026, stated that the board remains "flummoxed by Hamas' refusal to disarm" — a prerequisite for reconstruction funds and ISF deployment . The ISF cannot deploy securely, reconstruction funds cannot be released, and the peace plan's second phase cannot proceed unless Hamas disarms .

2. Troop Commitments Unfulfilled

Pledges have not translated to boots on the ground, partly due to legal, political, and financial concerns among contributing states . The December 2025 US-led meeting in Doha to plan the ISF was largely inconclusive, with attendees failing to agree on the force's composition, mandate, or rules of engagement .

3. A Deteriorating Ceasefire

While a ceasefire is formally in place, Israel has continued seizing territory and striking targets, and Hamas has entrenched, repositioned, and rearmed . The ceasefire violation count reached 64 by mid-December 2025 according to IDF reports .

4. Unclear Mandate and Competing Visions

Analysts note that conflicting information about the Comprehensive Plan and the Board of Peace raises questions about whether the ISF can deploy as originally conceived . A review of the Board of Peace's charter indicates a substantial deviation from its original purpose: it is now defined as a global conflict-resolution mechanism outside the UN framework, with no reference to Gaza and no limitation to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict .

The Broader Diplomatic Framework

Trump's 20-Point Peace Plan

The ISF is the security pillar of Trump's 20-point peace plan, which calls for a ceasefire, hostage release, prisoner exchanges, Hamas disarmament, Gaza reconstruction, and a pathway to Palestinian governance reform . The plan was endorsed by UN Security Council Resolution 2803 in November 2025 .

Board of Peace (BoP)

The Board of Peace is a U.S.-led international body established by Trump, named in UNSCR 2803, and tasked with overseeing all 20 points of the peace plan — including strategic direction for the ISF . It held its inaugural meeting on February 19, 2026, in Washington, where Trump announced $7 billion in pledges from nine participating nations for a Gaza reconstruction fund . However, the reconstruction money is contingent on Hamas disarmament — a condition that remains unmet . Russia's President Putin received an invitation to join, but the board has drawn skepticism from close U.S. allies who view it as an attempt to bypass traditional UN frameworks . The board's mandate runs through December 31, 2027 (renewable) .

Hamas Disarmament Negotiations

This is the critical choke point linking all tracks: the ISF cannot deploy securely, reconstruction funds cannot be released, and the peace plan's second phase cannot proceed unless Hamas disarms . By June 2026, Hamas had not complied, leaving the entire framework in a holding pattern .

Bottom Line

The International Stabilization Force for Gaza has pledges from six countries and a U.S. commander, but no meaningful troop deployment has occurred as of June 2026. The force is paralyzed by Hamas's refusal to disarm, unfulfilled national commitments (compounded by Indonesia's suspension of its pledge), a deteriorating ceasefire, and unresolved questions about its mandate. These challenges are directly tied to the broader Trump peace plan and Board of Peace framework — all of which are stalled at the same point: reconstruction and stabilization are conditioned on disarmament, and disarmament has not happened.