International troops could be deployed in the Gaza Strip as early as next month to form a UN-authorized stabilization force, two US officials told Reuters, but it remains unclear how Hamas will be disarmed.

The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the International Stabilization Force (ISF) would not fight Hamas. They claimed numerous countries have expressed interest in contributing, and US officials are currently working out the size of the ISF, composition, housing, training, and rules of engagement.

Doha Conference

The US Central Command will host a conference in Doha on December 16 with partner nations to plan the International Stabilization Force for Gaza, the officials said.

More than 25 countries are expected to send representatives to the conference, which will include sessions on command structure and other issues related to the Gaza force. An American two-star general is being considered to lead the ISF, but no decisions have been made, the officials said.

The goal of deploying the ISF in January is not new. The Times of Israel has reported for nearly two months that US officials have been talking about that aim. However, the timeframe is appearing increasingly unlikely, as even countries thought to be interested in contributing troops, such as Azerbaijan and Indonesia, have yet to formally announce decisions to do so.

Trump Peace Plan

Deployment of the force is a key part of the next phase of US President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan. Under the first phase, a fragile ceasefire in the two-year war began on October 10, with Hamas releasing hostages and Israel freeing detained Palestinians.

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Thursday that there is quiet planning going on behind the scenes for phase two of the peace deal. The administration wants to ensure an enduring and lasting peace.

Indonesia’s Potential Contribution

Indonesia has said it is prepared to deploy up to 20,000 troops to take on health and construction-related tasks in Gaza.

Rico Sirait, spokesperson of the Indonesian Defense Ministry, said the deployment is still in the planning and preparation stages. The ministry is now preparing the organizational structure of the forces to be deployed.

An Azerbaijani official told The Times of Israel last week that Baku does not have nearly enough information on the ISF’s mandate in order to make a decision to join the force.

Deployment Strategy

Israel still controls 53 percent of Gaza, while nearly all the 2 million people in the enclave live in the remaining Hamas-held area. The plan, which needs to be finalized by the Board of Peace, is for the ISF to deploy in the area held by Israel, the US officials said.

Then, according to the Trump peace plan, as the ISF establishes control and stability, Israeli troops will gradually withdraw based on standards, milestones, and timeframes linked to demilitarization.

A UN Security Council resolution adopted on November 17 authorized a Board of Peace and countries working with it to establish the ISF. Trump said on Wednesday that an announcement on which world leaders will serve on the Board of Peace will be made early next year.

Demilitarizing Gaza

The Security Council authorized the ISF to work alongside newly trained and vetted Palestinian police to stabilize security by ensuring the process of demilitarizing the Gaza Strip, including the destruction and prevention of rebuilding of military, terror, and offensive infrastructure, as well as the permanent decommissioning of weapons from non-state armed groups.

However, it remains unclear exactly how that would work.

US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz noted on Thursday that the ISF was authorized by the Security Council to demilitarize Gaza by all means necessary, which means use of force.

Waltz told Israel’s Channel 12 news that discussions on rules of engagement are under way. Each country will have conversations about its specific role.

Hamas has said the issue of disarmament has not been discussed with them formally by the mediators—the US, Egypt, and Qatar. The terror group’s stance remains that it will not disarm until a Palestinian state is established.

Israeli Perspective

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a speech on Sunday that the second phase would move toward demilitarization and disarmament.

Netanyahu acknowledged that friends in America want to try and establish a multinational task force to do the job. He said he welcomed it and invited volunteers to participate.

However, Netanyahu added that while there are certain tasks this force can perform, some things are beyond their abilities, particularly the main task. He said the situation remains to be seen.