Full Breakdown
Stalled International Stabilization Force for Gaza Amid Iran War
5/28/2026, 11:51:36 PM
Core Event: Unfulfilled Deployment of the 20,000-Strong Force
In February 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace announced a 20,000-person International Stabilization Force (ISF) for Gaza, to be led by Maj. Gen. Jasper Jeffers. The force was intended to secure a fragile cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and to enable reconstruction. Three months later, none of the five pledged contributors—Indonesia, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Kosovo and Albania—have delivered troops, leaving the ISF without personnel.
Background & Context: Board of Peace Initiative and Regional Conflict
The Board of Peace was created after the Israel-Hamas war to coordinate post-conflict stabilization. Its launch coincided with escalating hostilities between the United States, Israel and Iran, following joint strikes on Iranian targets on 28 February 2026. The resulting “Iran war” has strained Arab and Muslim states’ willingness to cooperate with the United States and has deepened a global energy crisis, further complicating the ISF’s logistics.
Timeline of Key Developments
- 19 Feb 2026 – Inaugural Board of Peace meeting in Washington; ISF announced.
- 28 Feb 2026 – U.S. and Israeli missile strikes on Iran.
- Early Mar 2026 – Indonesia suspends its 8,000-troop pledge, citing lack of guidelines.
- April 2026 – Planned dispatch of 1,000 Indonesian troops postponed.
- May 2026 – Board of Peace director Nickolay Mladenov states ISF cannot operate without Hamas disarmament; no troops on the ground.
Data & Statistics
- Planned ISF size: 20,000 personnel.
- Indonesia’s original commitment: 8,000 troops (1,000 slated for April, remainder for June).
- Kazakhstan: limited to humanitarian medical units and a field hospital.
- Kosovo: 20 troops in final preparation.
- Albania: reconnaissance activities only; headquarters staff pending.
- Israeli forces control roughly 60 % of Gaza; Israeli strikes have killed >880 Palestinians since the cease-fire began.
Official Statements & Responses
Board of Peace director Nickolay Mladenov emphasized that Hamas’s disarmament is “non-negotiable” and a prerequisite for any ISF deployment. Indonesian Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin said the government has not received implementation guidelines, attributing the delay to the “intensity of the conflict between U.S. and Iranian forces.” Maj. Gen. Jeffers reiterated that the ISF would bring “future prosperity and enduring peace” once operational.
Criticism & Opposition
Analyst Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat warned that the Board of Peace lacks public credibility in Indonesia, noting widespread skepticism that the initiative will aid Gaza. He cited domestic economic pressures, soaring prices linked to the Iran war, and the loss of four Indonesian peacekeepers in Lebanon as factors dampening support. Hamas has accused the Board of bias toward Israel, while Israel blames Hamas for cease-fire violations.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Hamas claims Israel repeatedly breaches the cease-fire, whereas Israeli officials argue Hamas refuses to disarm, stalling progress. The exact number of troops each pledged country will ultimately contribute remains unclear, as Morocco, Albania and Kazakhstan have not confirmed final figures. No independent verification exists that any ISF personnel have arrived in Gaza.
Verbatim Quotes
- “future prosperity and enduring peace” — Maj. Gen. Jasper Jeffers, commander-designate of the ISF
- “we have not yet received any implementation guidelines.” — Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, Indonesian Defense Minister
- “If you talk to the people on the street, I don’t think they believe that the Board of Peace will actually help the people of Gaza,” — Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat, analyst, Jakarta
- “You cannot build a future with armed groups running the streets, hiding in tunnels and stockpiling weapons,” — Nickolay Mladenov, Board of Peace director
- “You cannot deliver reconstruction with militias on every corner.” — Nickolay Mladenov
What’s Next
Indonesia’s participation remains uncertain, though officials suggest a possible reversal if Washington clarifies its role. The Board of Peace has indicated that a Hamas-wide disarmament and an Israeli withdrawal are essential before the ISF can be activated. Diplomatic talks in Doha and ongoing cease-fire negotiations will therefore determine whether the stabilization force ever materializes.
