Rubio: US must clarify mandate of Gaza force before we can expect countries to send troops |
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday that the Trump administration will have to clarify the mandate of the International Stabilization Force before it can expect to secure troop commitments from participating countries, as it struggles to find countries willing to contribute troops to the force.
“In fairness to all the countries we’ve talked to about having a presence on the ground, I think they want to know specifically what the mandate will be and what the funding mechanism,” Rubio said during a press conference when asked whether the US has secured a commitment from Pakistan, which is reportedly under American pressure to contribute soldiers to the foreign force that will be tasked with gradually phasing the IDF out of Gaza and securing the enclave.
“We’re very grateful to Pakistan for their offer to consider being a part of it, [but] I think we owe them a few more answers before we can ask anybody to firmly commit,” Rubio added.
“I feel very confident that we have a number of nation states acceptable to all sides [that] are willing to step forward and be a part of that stabilization force,” he declared.
Two Western diplomats familiar with the situation told The Times of Israel on Friday that among those Rubio has asked to contribute troops to the force is Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali.
“We’re trying to make a lot of progress here. The next step is announcing the Board of Peace, announcing the Palestinian technocratic [committee] that will help provide daily governance,” Rubio said at the press conference.
“Once that’s in place, that will allow us to firm up the stabilization force, including how it’s going to be paid for, what the rules of engagement are, what their role will be in demilitarization and so forth,” he said.
The full implementation of phase two will likely take two or three years, according to Rubio. The Palestinian Authority is hoping to take over management of Gaza from the Board of Peace in a shorter timeframe.
The top US diplomat appeared not to rule out the possibility that the US will pursue a Hamas disarmament plan that differentiates between heavy and light weaponry.
“I’m........