Netanyahu denies authorizing the entry of the International Stabilization Force into Gaza
The Israeli prime minister reiterates that no reconstruction will take place in the Gaza Strip before Hamas is completely disarmed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied on Thursday that he had approved the entry of the International Stabilization Force into the Gaza Strip, following reports that the government had authorized the force to enter after officers from African countries such as Burundi and Uganda arrived in the area.
The deployment of this force in the Gaza Strip is part of US President Donald Trump’s plan to end the war waged by Israel against the Palestinians since October 8, 2023.
According to the “International Peace Council,” chaired by Trump, the International Stabilization Force is expected to comprise troops from several countries and be led by an American general.
Netanyahu’s office said in a statement: “Contrary to the reports, which did not specify their source or nature, the political leadership has not approved the entry of the international force into the Gaza Strip.”
On July 31, the “Peace Council” announced that it had reached a roadmap for implementing the next stages of the ceasefire. Hamas subsequently announced that it accepted the roadmap and called for Israel to be compelled to comply with it.
The roadmap includes transferring administration of the Gaza Strip to a national committee under international supervision, deploying an international stabilization force, disarming Hamas and placing its weapons under the committee’s responsibility, alongside a phased Israeli withdrawal and reconstruction efforts.
However, Netanyahu, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court on allegations of war crimes in Gaza, announced on August 9 that he rejected these arrangements, insisting that Hamas must be disarmed before any Israeli withdrawal.
Netanyahu’s office added on Thursday: “Israel has made clear that there will be no reconstruction in the Gaza Strip before Hamas is completely disarmed.”
The war, waged with US support, has reportedly killed more than 73,000 Palestinians and wounded more than 174,000, most of them children and women, while causing destruction to 90 percent of the infrastructure.
Despite the ceasefire agreement announced on October 10, 2025, Israel has continued, according to the text, its daily military operations, which have killed 1,273 Palestinians and wounded 4,223 since the truce took effect, most of them children and women, in addition to causing widespread destruction.
Israel is also preventing the entry into Gaza of the agreed quantities of food, medicines, medical supplies, shelter materials, and prefabricated housing, while around 2.4 million Palestinians, including 2.15 million displaced people, are living there in catastrophic conditions.
In 1948, Israel was established on lands seized by armed Zionist militias that committed massacres and displaced at least 750,000 Palestinians. Israel subsequently occupied the remaining Palestinian territories and has refused to withdraw from them or allow the establishment of a Palestinian state provided for in United Nations resolutions.
