ISLAMABAD: The United States (US) is grateful for Pakistan’s offer to take part in a potential international stabilization force for Gaza, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday, as diplomatic efforts continue over the Palestinian enclave’s post-war security arrangements.
The statement came days after Pakistan among dozens of countries attended a conference in Qatar, hosted by the US, to discuss command structure and other unresolved operational issues relating to the Gaza stabilization force.
Top officials of Qatar and Egypt — key mediators of the ceasefire — and regional power Turkiye headed Friday to Miami to meet US envoys including Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump’s friend and roving envoy.
Speaking at a news conference in Washington, Rubio was hopeful that countries would send troops as part of the force in Gaza and pointed to Pakistan which does not recognize Israel but is considering a troop deployment.
“I feel very confident that we have a number of nation states acceptable to all sides in this who are willing to step forward and be a part of that stabilization force,” Rubio said.
“We’re very grateful to Pakistan for their offer to be a part of it, or at least their offer to consider being a part of it.”
Islamabad has previously said that it is willing to join the Gaza peace force but “not ready” to play any role in disarming Palestinian group Hamas. Hamas’s Gaza chief Khalil Al-Hayya said Sunday the militant group had a “legitimate right” to hold weapons. Israel has repeatedly insisted that Hamas will be disarmed.
The international stabilization force, which is to be composed of troops from Muslim countries, is a cornerstone of President Donald Trump’s peace plan for Gaza announced on Sept. 29 this year.
The United Nations Security Council last month approved Washington’s plan, which called for a yet-to-be-established Board of Peace as a transitional authority that Trump would head, and the stabilization force, which would be empowered to oversee borders, provide security and demilitarize the territory.
Rubio said he thought they owe these nations a few more answers before asking them to commit to the Gaza peace force.
“We are trying to make a lot more progress here with them,” he shared. “The next step here is announcing the border peace, announcing the Palestinian technocratic group that will help provide daily governance... I think that will allow us to firm up the stabilization force, including how it’s going be paid for, what the rules of engagement are, what their role in demilitarization will be and so forth.”
