Egypt will only participate in an international stabilization force for Gaza if it is led by the United States, according to sources cited by UAE newspaper The National.
While the sources did not specify Egypt's reasons for insisting on US leadership, they suggested that American command would lend greater authority to the mission and enhance security for other participating nations. Egyptian authorities reportedly want their troops to “provide security and maintain stability in Gaza, rather than engage in combat with armed groups.”
The report also indicates that Egypt is insisting on Turkey's mandatory participation, despite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's previous opposition to Turkish troops in Gaza.
This development follows earlier reports by The Guardian that Egypt would lead the international military contingent in Gaza, with Azerbaijan, Indonesia, and Turkey also expected to contribute significant personnel—though no countries have officially confirmed their participation.
According to The National, the proposed force would comprise at least 4,000 personnel with peacekeeping-level authority but without heavy weaponry. Their responsibilities would include deploying field hospitals, restoring critical infrastructure, and coordinating recovery operations for Palestinian casualties alongside 3,000 local volunteers.
The US reportedly prefers that the force operate under a status similar to international forces in Haiti that combat organized crime, rather than as a formal UN peacekeeping mission. Meanwhile, Egypt has been advocating for a UN Security Council resolution to authorize the stabilization force's establishment.
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Based on materials from TASS