Israel says no Gaza reconstruction before Hamas disarmament

The Prime Minister’s Office stresses that Israel has not yet approved the deployment of the nascent International Stabilization Force to Gaza under US President Donald Trump’s postwar plan for the Strip, following Hebrew media reports suggesting otherwise.

“Contrary to media reports, the political echelon has not approved the entry of the international force to the Gaza Strip,” the statement reads, adding that “Israel has made it clear that there will not be any reconstruction in the Strip before Hamas is fully disarmed,” The Times of Israel reports.

The statement appears to refer to footage circulated by Hebrew media earlier this week showing foreign military officers touring the Rafah area alongside IDF personnel, which some outlets described as an initial deployment of ISF troops.

An official with knowledge of the matter told The Times of Israel that the footage came from a “pre-deployment site survey” by senior military officers from Burundi and Uganda – the latter of which announced earlier this month that it approved the deployment of troops to Gaza as part of the ISF – amid preliminary discussions with Israel about joining the force.

Israeli officials said last month that the Israeli security cabinet had voted to approve certain legal measures allowing the limited entry of the ISF under the Board of Peace-led plan for Gaza, which would include 200 troops from “friendly countries.”

The plan would see the peacekeeping force deploy to Gaza to secure areas after Israeli forces withdraw, as well as assist with other security and humanitarian efforts. While Hamas agreed to the Board’s July disarmament plan, the effort has stalled as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists there will be no Israeli withdrawals until the terror group is fully disarmed.

The Board is nonetheless advancing progress on the ISF, with Trump’s administration recently telling Congress it is sending more than $206 million for the force.

By Vafa Guliyeva