US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated during a visit to Israel that multiple countries have offered to participate in an International Stabilization Force (ISF) for Gaza, a component of President Donald Trump's peace plan. Rubio emphasized the US commitment to the plan, despite anticipating difficulties. He outlined requirements for Gaza's future, including Hamas's demilitarization and exclusion from governance. The visit follows a week of high-level American diplomatic engagement in Israel, amid reports of US frustration regarding Israeli actions.
Rubio's Statements on Peace Plan and International Security Force
Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State, visited Israel and stated that "a lot of countries" have offered to join an International Stabilization Force (ISF) for Gaza. This force is described as a key element of President Donald Trump's peace plan. Rubio indicated that Israel would need to approve the participating nations. He described the current Israel-Hamas ceasefire, which began two weeks prior, as having made "historic" progress, while also anticipating future "ups and downs and twists and turns."
Rubio affirmed that the US is committed to making the peace plan succeed, stating, "There is no plan B," and calling it "the only plan." He expressed the goal of creating conditions in Gaza to prevent future events like the attack on October 7 and to remove elements threatening Israel or Gaza's population.
Regarding Hamas, Rubio stated that the group would be disarmed, as required by Trump's plan. He added that if Hamas refuses to demilitarize, it would constitute a violation of the agreement, necessitating enforcement. Rubio also specified that Hamas "cannot govern and cannot be involved in governing the future of Gaza."
US Diplomatic Activity and Regional Context
Rubio's visit concluded a week of senior American official visits to Israel, which included Vice-President JD Vance. This diplomatic activity coincided with multiple reports suggesting White House frustration with the Israeli government. These reports cited a deadly Israeli military response to an attack attributed to Hamas last weekend and a vote in the Israeli parliament concerning the annexation of the occupied West Bank, which occurred during Vance's visit.
The Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that American officials stated they would "not tolerate any surprises from Israel that could jeopardise the ceasefire" and expected advance notice from Israel before any strikes in Gaza. Haaretz also reported that the US was "taking over certain security authorities from Israel."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly dismissed reports of Washington making decisions on Israel's behalf, characterizing the relationship as a partnership. His coalition includes ultra-nationalist ministers.
Both Rubio and Vance publicly expressed optimism that the ceasefire would continue, while acknowledging that negotiations over remaining issues would be difficult.
Details of the Peace Plan and Unresolved Issues
The peace plan's unresolved issues include the extent of the Israeli withdrawal, the future governance of Gaza, the formation of the ISF, and the disarmament of Hamas. Officials have not provided details on how these discussions will proceed.
The scope of the ISF's mission remains unclear. Reports indicate that countries considering participation are concerned about the potential for their forces to engage with Hamas fighters if no agreement is reached with the group regarding the ISF's deployment. Rubio mentioned that Israel's comfort with participants would be a factor. Reports suggest Israel has vetoed Turkey's involvement in the ISF, despite Turkey being identified as a significant player in negotiations.
Rubio reiterated that implementing the peace plan "is not going to be an easy ride" and anticipated "bumps along the road."
Background of the Conflict
The conflict escalated following a Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. This attack resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and the taking of 251 hostages to Gaza. The subsequent Israeli military campaign has resulted in at least 68,280 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry, whose figures are deemed reliable by the United Nations.