Why An "International Stabilization Force" for Gaza is Probably Doomed

Even if the UN authorizes it, no country wants to fight — or occupy — Gaza.

Danny Danon, Israel’s UN Ambassador addresses the Security Council in October. UN Photo/Evan Schneider

For the past several weeks, the United States has been circulating drafts of a Security Council resolution meant to put into action a key part of President Trump’s 20-Point Peace Plan: the deployment of an International Stabilization Force for Gaza.

The idea goes like this: troops from Arab or Muslim-majority countries would deploy to Gaza as Israeli forces pull back. In theory, the proposal makes sense. There’s a long history of international troops successfully stepping in after a conflict to help stabilize the peace. But in Gaza, there’s very little reason to think this force will actually deploy anytime soon — if ever.

Here’s why.