Frontier Correspondent
U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani aboard Air Force One during a stopover in Doha.
Doha, Qatar.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that preparations for an international stabilization force in Gaza are in their final stages, marking what he described as a “critical step” in implementing the second phase of his 20-point Middle East peace plan.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One during a refueling stop en route to the region, Trump praised Qatar’s mediation efforts and said the multinational force “will be ready soon” to help maintain security and oversee reconstruction efforts in the war-torn enclave.
The announcement follows the successful completion of phase one of the peace plan, which Israel and Hamas agreed to in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on October 9, 2025. That phase established an immediate ceasefire beginning October 10, the release of all 20 surviving Israeli hostages and 13 deceased captives held by Hamas, and the freedom of over 1,900 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli custody. Israeli troops have since partially withdrawn to designated buffer zones, allowing a surge in humanitarian aid into Gaza, where two years of devastating war have claimed more than 68,000 Palestinian lives.
Outlined in Trump’s September 29 proposal, the planned international force aims to restore order, support a transitional technocratic Palestinian administration, and supervise Hamas’s gradual disarmament. The deployment will reportedly include contributions from Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and other Arab and international partners, operating under a “Board of Peace” chaired by Trump and featuring figures such as former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.
According to U.S. officials, Israel will retain veto power over participating nations, while Washington is consulting with several Muslim-majority countries and exploring the option of a U.N. mandate to formalize the mission.
Vice President JD Vance, during his visit to Israel on October 21, underscored the urgency of deploying the force “before further Israeli withdrawals can proceed.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed on October 24 that the U.S. is currently finalizing the composition of the coalition and will hold further discussions in Doha.
The initiative has garnered broad international support, including from Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and a joint communique issued by the foreign ministers of Qatar, Jordan, the UAE, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, commending Trump’s leadership in pursuing “a credible path to lasting peace.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked Trump for his “decisive role” in securing the hostage releases and advancing regional normalization talks.
For its part, Hamas has accepted the transitional governance structure but maintains that full disarmament will depend on guarantees of Palestinian statehood. No clear timeline has been set for that phase.
Despite the ceasefire, tensions remain high. Sporadic Israeli airstrikes have been reported in Gaza and southern Lebanon, including a targeted operation in central Gaza on Saturday, raising fears of renewed escalation.
As U.S., Egyptian, and Qatari mediators prepare for phase two negotiations in Cairo, the pending deployment of the international force could determine whether the fragile truce solidifies into lasting peace—or unravels amid Gaza’s enduring instability.