Report: Trump Seeks 10,000 Troops For Gaza Force, Nations Hesitant

Despite mounting diplomatic hurdles, the Trump administration is moving ahead with an ambitious proposal to deploy an international stabilization force in postwar Gaza, according to a Wall Street Journal report published Saturday. The concept envisions roughly 10,000 troops operating under the command of a US general, though officials concede the timeline for assembling such a contingent could stretch well into next year.

Senior US officials underscore that President Donald Trump’s broader peace initiative only received approval from the UN Security Council about a month ago, framing the current outreach as an early but intensive phase of implementation. “The Trump administration has made tremendous progress in record time in implementing President Trump’s 20-point peace plan and we have seen unbelievable interest from countries across the world to be a part of this historic effort to deliver a lasting peace in the Middle East,” White House spokesman Dylan Johnson said.

Behind the scenes, progress has been uneven. While Washington has formally approached more than 70 countries to seek either troops or financial backing, not a single nation has yet committed soldiers to the mission, the WSJ reported. The State Department’s outreach includes close allies such as Italy and France, alongside smaller states like Malta and El Salvador. In the Middle East, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are already engaged in discussions about funding, though US officials say those talks “will require consistent engagement for specific asks.”

Some American officials are cautiously optimistic that initial pledges—perhaps totaling 5,000 troops—could be secured early next year, with hopes of eventually reaching the 10,000 mark by the end of 2026. Others are more skeptical, warning the force could stall at closer to 8,000 personnel. Even countries viewed as likely participants, including Azerbaijan and Indonesia, are pressing for a limited mandate that steers clear of direct combat or efforts to disarm Hamas operatives still active in parts of Gaza. Their embassies in Washington declined to comment.

According to a US official, 19 countries have indicated some level of interest, whether by contributing troops or offering support such as equipment, transportation, or logistics. Momentum may build next week, when representatives from more than 25 nations are expected to gather in Qatar for a US-led meeting to hash out the proposed force’s structure and operational boundaries.

The administration plans for Trump to name the US general who would lead the mission early next year. Officials emphasize that American troops will not be deployed inside Gaza itself, although some US personnel are already assigned to a coordination hub in Kiryat Gat, Israel.

Diplomatic negotiations remain stuck on fundamental issues, including Hamas’s refusal to disarm and unresolved questions about who will govern Gaza once hostilities subside. Against that backdrop, Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu is slated to meet with Trump in Miami in late December, where both leaders are expected to weigh options for moving the plan forward.

{Matzav.com}