Only Muslim soldiers will serve as peacekeepers in Gaza

[Twiglets1]

Article in The Telegraph today suggesting that the "international stabilisation force" is likely to be made up from Indonesian, Emirati and Egyptian troops.

Despite the new civil-military command centre for managing the post-war Strip being run by the US, the troops operating on the ground will mainly come from regional countries in order to reduce tension.

Potential contributing nationals are reported to be wrangling over not just the composition of the force, but its precise role – actively disarming Hamas or merely policing a post-Hamas Gaza – and its formal legal basis.

Earlier this week, King Abdullah of Jordan, one of the Arab and Muslim countries expected to play a role in the future of Gaza, said he did not believe international troops would forcibly disarm Hamas.

He said the international stabilisation force’s mandate should be “peacekeeping” not “peace enforcing”, saying “nobody will want to touch that”.

Israel has strongly opposed suggestions of Turkish or Qatari troops playing a role on the ground, on the basis of both countries’ sympathies for the Muslim Brotherhood principles on which Hamas was founded.

Ynet reported sources as saying that no Western or non-Muslim troops would be deployed.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/10/31/only-muslim-soldiers-will-serve-as-peacekeepers-in-gaza/

Is this a problem?

Not to me.

I'll be glad if Western/non Muslim troops are excluded. At least that way if they get drawn into any fighting, Hamas won't be able to use the excuse that the troops are anti Muslim.

Countries have to offer their troops to be part of a peacekeeping force. Sounds like these are the ones that have offered. The article you link says the US has offered 200 soldiers, though of course, nationality doesn't necessarily tell you anything about religion.

The 200 US soldiers will not be engaged in a military or "peacekeeping" capacity on the ground.

The BBC report that they are there to help monitor the ceasefire in Gaza.

One senior official said no US forces will enter Gaza, adding that the American role was to create a Joint Control Center which will "integrate" the multinational force going in.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cpvl97r4e8jo

Do you not envisage that there might just be a conflict of interests of troops from Muslim countries with citizens that may hold an anti Israel stance (despite what is said publicly although I think Indonesia make no secret of it), having a role as an international ‘stabilisation force’ in Gaza after this war with Israel?

Especially after accusations that Egyptian officials were complicit in the smuggling of weapons into Gaza and Egypt’s refusal to accept refugees, especially women and children from a war zone with absolutely no protection from their terrorist government who publicly admitted they needed their blood to fuel the war, and whose deaths are used as the main tool in Hamas’s propaganda war to demonise Israel?

I’m not sure why you quoted me? I asked the OP a question as they posted the article but didn’t give their opinion and she now has.

Are other posters not allowed to quote posts unless they’re directed at them?

I certainly would not want my kids / partner going there

They certainly are, but your post asked me if I envisaged that their might be a conflict of interests when I gave no opinion on the matter so I wondered why you asked me. No bother either way

I agree broadly with the proposition but why do Hamas get to dictate the terms of the constituency of the peacekeeping force effectively?

We could have the situation that there is a still armed Hamas shielded by an international force that would have sympathy with their so called cause.

It seems like a group that may police but won't actively get involved with any forcible disarmament of Hamas

It is not Hamas who are dictating the constituency. There is a religious aspect to this conflict. If European/US soldiers were on the ground there could be aspersions and accusations of colonization. Not just by the Palestinians but by others. By ensuring the peacekeeping forces are from Muslim countries, it negates that possibility. Bear in mind their job in Gaza would merely be peacekeeping and observing. As the article says, their job is not going to be peace enforcers or responsible for disarming Hamas. If the fighting starts again, they will simply pull out.

Foreign ministers from 8 nations are meeting in Turkey today to discuss the implementation of the peace plan including the international stabilisation force (ISF). The diplomats are coming from Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Pakistan and Indonesia.

According to Middle East Eye, the Israeli Parliament has been informed that the soldiers tasked with peacekeeping are likely to come from Indonesia, Azerbaijan and Pakistan.

That will be interesting.

In other news - A US official told the Axios news site yesterday that the goal is to deploy the first ISF troops to Gaza by January.

The U.S. sent several UN Security Council members a draft resolution on Monday for the establishment of an international force in Gaza for a duration of at least two years, according to a copy obtained by Axios.

The draft resolution, which was designated "SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED," would give the U.S. and other participating countries a broad mandate to govern Gaza and provide security through the end of 2027, with the possibility of extensions after that.

The draft resolution will be the basis for negotiations over the coming days between UN Security Council members, with the goal of voting to establish it in the coming weeks and deploying the first troops to Gaza by January, a U.S. official told Axios.

https://www.axios.com/2025/11/03/gaza-security-force-board-of-peace-un-resolution

Frankly I’m in awe of people who know enough and care enough to post about this.

I've been following this war closely ... naturally I'm interested in what happens next and would love to see peace in Gaza in the years to come if that's possible.

I'm sure you are interested in other things - we're all different with what we feel strongly about.

One of the challenges is going to stop a civil war in Gaza which is probably being under reported. We know there are clashes between Hamas and other groups and th Pugh this may lead to Hamas being further degraded it does pose a problem of introducing law and order.

one thing I do wonder about is whether ex Hamas members may need prof action against the people given citizens usually react badly to the failure of their war time leaders (see Mussolini).

Did you mean to say you wonder whether ex Hamas members may need protection against the people?

Who would care enough about ex Hamas members to offer them protection? I wouldn't shed a tear if Gazans started taking revenge on them and dishing out a bit of rough justice. Live by the sword die by the sword.

Interesting article

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8912d7jxl2o

"as mediators face a new obstacle in their efforts to advance negotiations on the fragile Gaza ceasefire deal to the next and more complex phase.

Key sticking points remain unresolved, including Hamas's disarmament, the reconstruction and future governance of Gaza, and the deployment of an international security force to the territory."

After the last debacle would you believe anything the BBC said ?

"Another challenge has emerged recently, involving scores of Hamas fighters believed to be in tunnels beneath the southern city of Rafah behind the so-called "Yellow Line", which marks the area under Israeli control"

Obviously most people realise that Hamas have always come and gone around Gaza using the tunnels, however, hiding there now or 'stuck' there now.

They do have a bias towards accepting Hamas comments and seem to rush to print.

I'd wondered why the peacekeeping forces of Muslim contingent hadn't started. If Hamas are there maybe they don't want to risk.it.

Not particularly but I have subsequently seen it reported in other sources too.

It was reported in the Jerusalem Post that:

Israel and the United States on Tuesday reached a significant compromise, agreeing on the deportation of some 200 Hamas terrorists, currently hiding in tunnels within an IDF-controlled Yellow Line in Rafah.

However, despite the arrangement, no country has yet agreed to accept the deported individuals, leaving a key aspect of the deal unresolved.

However, I also saw this development denied by the Times of Israel so it's still unclear really. I also wonder (if it is true) what country would want to take 200 Hamas terrorists??

www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-873518

They should be imprisoned so perhaps another Muslim country might have them.in prison? I'd understand why no country would want hundreds of terrorists roaming free in their country.