July 28, 2026 | FDD's Long War Journal
Israel approves entry of International Stabilization Force into Gaza
July 28, 2026 | FDD's Long War Journal
Israel approves entry of International Stabilization Force into Gaza
On July 26, the Israeli government’s cabinet approved the entry of forces from the International Stabilization Force (ISF) into Gaza in the near future. The development envisions an initial deployment of up to 200 troops with the approval of Israel’s prime minister, minister of defense, and minister of foreign affairs. The ISF is expected to be composed of soldiers and personnel from Kosovo, Albania, Morocco, and possibly Kazakhstan and other countries. As the ISF prepares to enter Gaza, Israel continues to carry out strikes on Hamas and other terrorists in the territory.
The Board of Peace, established with the US-backed ceasefire in Gaza, praised Israel’s decision to move forward with the ISF. “Very important development in the process to deliver peace, prosperity, and development in Gaza. The International Stabilization Force serves a critical role in the scaling of humanitarian services and reconstruction for the people of Gaza,” the board noted on July 26. “These efforts will move forward with concrete actions over the coming months to introduce a new model of governance, security, and economic opportunity.”
The Gaza 20-point peace plan, announced in early October 2025 and backed by United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803, has been incrementally supported by the US over the last 10 months. US Central Command set up a Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC ) in October 2025, followed by the creation of a facility near the Gaza border called Logistic Support Area: Endurance in June.
In January, Nickolay Mladenov, a former Bulgarian official, was appointed as the high representative of the Board of Peace for Gaza. “I welcome steps by Israel that enable the deployment of the International Stabilization Force in Gaza, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2803,” Mladenov wrote on X on July 26. He added that the development is critical for stabilizing Gaza and supporting demilitarization and would help enable a transition to a new Palestinian administration run by the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG). “The focus now [is] on ensuring that we move forward with the 20-point Plan for Gaza, including the implementation of the Roadmap as presented by the mediators,” Mladenov stated.
While some Israeli politicians expressed skepticism about the next steps in Gaza, the next few weeks are expected to see the first actions by the ISF. “The Cabinet decision effectively grants special status to the Board of Peace in Gaza and constitutes Israeli consent to launch a pilot program to restore basic services in Gaza, provide humanitarian aid and establish shelters in areas not controlled by Hamas,” Israel’s Ynet noted.
The ISF decision came 10 days after Morocco signed an agreement to participate in the ISF. “Moroccan forces will support humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza and help train the Palestinian Police Force,” the Board of Peace noted on July 16. An Israeli official also said Uganda would participate. The decision to move forward with the ISF’s entry into Gaza also came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepared to depart for the United States on July 27.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) carried out several strikes on terrorists in Gaza during the third week of July. On July 27, the IDF said it eliminated a Palestinian Islamic Jihad member in the territory. This followed strikes on a Hamas Internal Security forces member as well as a Hamas drone unit commanderon July 27 and 28, respectively. The IDF also dismantled a tunnel that it said was hundreds of meters long within the area of Gaza under Israeli control. Hamas continues to control around 40 percent of the territory, according to Israeli estimates.
Reporting from Israel, Seth J. Frantzman is an adjunct fellow at FDD and a contributor to FDD’s Long War Journal. He is the senior Middle East correspondent and analyst at The Jerusalem Post, and author of The October 7 War: Israel’s Battle for Security in Gaza (2024).
Facts Only
* On July 26, the Israeli government’s cabinet approved the entry of forces from the International Stabilization Force (ISF) into Gaza.
* The initial deployment envisions up to 200 troops with approval from Israel’s prime minister, minister of defense, and minister of foreign affairs.
* The ISF is expected to be composed of soldiers and personnel from Kosovo, Albania, Morocco, and possibly Kazakhstan and other countries.
* The Board of Peace praised Israel’s decision regarding the ISF entry as important for delivering peace, prosperity, and development in Gaza.
* The ISF is intended to serve a critical role in scaling humanitarian services and reconstruction for the people of Gaza.
* The Gaza 20-point peace plan was announced in early October 2025 and is backed by UN Security Council Resolution 2803.
* US Central Command set up a Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) in October 2025 and a Logistic Support Area: Endurance near the Gaza border in June.
* Nickolay Mladenov was appointed as the high representative of the Board of Peace for Gaza in January.
* Morocco signed an agreement to support humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza and help train the Palestinian Police Force.
* The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) carried out strikes on terrorists in Gaza during the third week of July, including eliminating a Palestinian Islamic Jihad member.
Executive Summary
The Israeli government approved the entry of forces from the International Stabilization Force (ISF) into Gaza, with an initial deployment planned for up to 200 troops, pending approval from key Israeli officials. The ISF is expected to consist of personnel from Kosovo, Albania, Morocco, and potentially Kazakhstan. This decision followed discussions by the Board of Peace, which viewed the move as critical for scaling humanitarian services and reconstruction in Gaza, aiming to introduce a new model of governance, security, and economic opportunity over the coming months.
Support for this process is framed by the Gaza 20-point peace plan, backed by UN Security Council Resolution 2803, which has received incremental US support through mechanisms like the Civil-Military Coordination Center and a Logistic Support Area. Representatives of the Board of Peace, such as Nickolay Mladenov, expressed welcome for the deployment, emphasizing its role in stabilizing Gaza, demilitarization, and enabling a transition to a new Palestinian administration overseen by the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG).
The decision to proceed with the ISF entry occurred shortly after Morocco agreed to support humanitarian aid delivery and training for the Palestinian Police Force, and coincided with Prime Minister Netanyahu's planned departure for the United States. Simultaneously, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) conducted strikes on various groups in Gaza, including Hamas and other terrorists, during the third week of July, resulting in the elimination of a Palestinian Islamic Jihad member and dismantling of tunnels.
Full Take
The narrative presents a complex interplay between formal international mechanisms, unilateral political decisions, and ongoing military action within Gaza. The process suggests an attempt to leverage external stabilization forces alongside internal security operations to effect a structural change in governance. The focus on the ISF’s role in "scaling humanitarian services and reconstruction" suggests an alignment between security intervention and development goals, which is then framed by supporting frameworks like the 20-point plan and UN resolutions.
A critical pattern emerges in how legitimacy is constructed: Israeli consent to the ISF entry is explicitly linked to support for a new administrative structure (NCAG) and humanitarian access, mediated through the Board of Peace. This sequence implies that international stabilization efforts are being channeled to support a specific outcome desired by the Israeli side regarding post-conflict governance. The timing—coinciding with diplomatic maneuvers involving Morocco and Netanyahu's departure—suggests strategic calibration where external involvement is managed alongside internal security realities demonstrated by recent IDF strikes.
The tension lies in the gap between the stated goals of stabilization and the on-the-ground reality, particularly concerning the control of territory (estimated at 40% by Israeli sources) and the nature of security operations versus humanitarian objectives. The framework attempts to move from conflict to a new governance model; however, the reliance on an externally assembled force introduces uncertainty about whose definition of "stabilization" will ultimately prevail, and who bears the costs associated with this transition.
Bridge questions: What specific metrics or safeguards are in place to ensure that the ISF's actions prioritize civilian welfare over security objectives? How does the proposed transition to a new Palestinian administration realistically account for the existing demographic and political divisions within Gaza? What is the long-term relationship between external stabilization forces and local governance structures, given the stated goal of establishing a "new model"?
Sentinel — Human
The text appears to be a composite piece of journalistic reporting that synthesizes publicly reported political and military developments with quoted external bodies, suggesting human editorial organization rather than pure synthetic generation.