US Secretary of State Rubio Seeks Quick Assembly of International Force to Police Gaza Ceasefire

Strategic Insights -

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed hope that an international peacekeeping force could be quickly assembled to maintain the fragile ceasefire in Gaza, which was signed on October 10, following a two-year period of war that began with Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. Rubio's visit to Israel comes as the situation in Gaza remains tense, with over 68,000 people killed and 2.2 million residents displaced from their homes.

Key Takeaways:

  • Rubio emphasized that Israel would retain the power to reject contributions from particular countries participating in the peacekeeping force.
  • Several nations, including Indonesia, the UAE, and Turkey, have volunteered to contribute troops to the mission, but Israel has reportedly rejected a plan that would see Turkish troops coming to Gaza.
  • Palestinian factions, including Hamas, agreed to establish a temporary Palestinian committee of independent technocrats to manage the affairs of life and basic services in cooperation with Arab brothers and international institutions.
  • Hamas has renounced all governing ambition, but has been loath to commit to disarming, and Rubio stated that refusal to lay down arms would be in violation of the ceasefire.
  • The Palestinian Authority, which governs the West Bank, remains unclear about its potential role in any upcoming Gaza government, something Israel has staunchly opposed to date.
  • Rubio made clear that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) would not be active in Gaza, citing the US's branding of UNRWA as an arm of Hamas.

Statistics:

  • Over 68,000 people have been killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023, according to health officials in the Palestinian enclave.
  • 2.2 million residents were forced to flee their homes in the Israeli offensive, and now they are returning to find rubble, a lack of sanitation, food, and medical assistance.
  • The US has 200 troops deployed to Israel, where they are running the Civil-Military Coordination Center to facilitate aid deliveries.
  • The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has been branded by the US as an arm of Hamas, despite the UN's denial.

Sources:

  • US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's statement on October 10, 2023
  • Palestinian faction agreement on the establishment of a temporary Palestinian committee of independent technocrats
  • Israel's decision to reject a plan that would see Turkish troops coming to Gaza
  • Reuters, "US Secretary of State Rubio in Israel amid tensions over Gaza ceasefire"
  • US Department of State, "Statement on the Ceasefire in Gaza"