US, Israel Plan Gaza Division and Stabilization Force

U.S. officials said many countries have offered to join an international stabilization force for Gaza but stressed Israel must be comfortable with the force’s composition and there is “no plan B,” while warning Hamas must be disarmed and excluded from future governance. Diplomats are debating the force’s shape — including a possible two-force model (border security plus an internal force), use of trained Palestinian Authority units from the West Bank alongside a smaller international presence, and European police observers — and any deployment would likely need a U.N. mandate. Washington is also considering a “Gaza Humanitarian Belt” of 12–16 hubs to streamline aid, provide voluntary reconciliation facilities to encourage fighters to disarm, and potentially replace the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation with partners such as the UAE/Morocco Red Cross and Samaritan’s Purse. Parallel U.S.-Israeli discussions envision dividing Gaza into an Israeli-administered, demilitarized reconstruction zone and a separate area left under Hamas control until it is disarmed; critics say the plan risks permanent division and undermines Palestinian sovereignty. With a fragile ceasefire in place and tens of thousands of Palestinian casualties reported, officials warn implementation will be difficult and contingent on security, humanitarian access and clear rules of engagement.