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ISLAMABAD: The Trump administration is planning to build a 5,000-person military base in Gaza, sprawling more than 350 acres. This was stated in an exclusive report by Guardian published on Thursday, which cited Board of Peace contracting records reviewed by the publication. The report states that the site is envisioned as a military operating base for a future International Stabilization Force (ISF), planned as a multinational military force composed of pledged troops. The ISF is part of the newly created Board of Peace, which is meant to govern Gaza. The Board of Peace is chaired by Donald Trump and led in part by his son-in-law, Jared Kushner. The plans call for the phased construction of a military outpost that will eventually have a footprint of 1,400 metres by 1,100 metres, ringed by 26 trailer-mounted armored watch towers, a small arms range, bunkers, and a warehouse for military equipment for operations. The entire base will be encircled with barbed wire. The fortification is planned for an arid stretch of flatlands in southern Gaza strewn with saltbush and white broom shrubs, and littered with twisted metal from years of Israeli bombardment. The plans say there is to be a network of bunkers each 6 meters by 4 meters and 2.5 meters tall, with elaborate ventilation systems where soldiers can go for protection. Diana Buttu, a Palestinian-Canadian lawyer and former peace negotiator, called building a military base on Palestinian land without the government&rsquo;s approval an act of occupation, according to the report. &ldquo;Whose permission did they get to build that military base?&rdquo; Officials from US Central Command referred all questions about the military base to the Board of Peace, says the report. According to the Guardian&rsquo;s report, a Trump administration official declined to discuss the military base contract: &ldquo;As the President has said, no US boots will be on the ground. We&rsquo;re not going to discuss leaked documents.&rdquo;

Middle East

The report states that the site is envisioned as a military operating base for a future International Stabilization Force (ISF), planned as a multinational military force composed of pledged troops. 

Trump officials plan to build 5,000-person military base in Gaza: Guardian 

ISLAMABAD: Indonesia has said any participation in the proposed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-rules-out-joining-abraham-accords-clarifies-peace-board-role" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">International Stabilization Force</a>&nbsp;(ISF) in Gaza, including a possible deployment of around 8,000 personnel, will remain fully under its national control and subject to strict conditions.&nbsp;In a statement issued on Feb. 14, the Foreign Ministry said Indonesia&rsquo;s involvement would be based on the mandate of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803 (2025), its &ldquo;Free and Active&rdquo; foreign policy and international law. The ministry stressed that the duties of Indonesian personnel would be limited and clearly defined under binding national caveats agreed with the ISF.&nbsp;The clarification comes a week after State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi said the government is finalizing preparations to deploy approximately 8,000 troops under the Board of Peace (BoP) mechanism established by the resolution.&nbsp;However, he clarified that the exact deployment location has not been finalized, despite earlier reports suggesting Rafah in southern Gaza.&nbsp;Indonesia emphasized that its role would be strictly non-combat and non-demilitarization in nature, focusing on humanitarian assistance, civilian protection, health services, reconstruction and capacity-building for the Palestinian Police. Personnel will not engage in combat operations or direct confrontation with any armed group.&nbsp;The use of force, the ministry said, would be limited to self-defense and protection of the mandate, applied proportionally and as a last resort in accordance with international law and agreed Rules of Engagement.&nbsp;Jakarta also underlined that deployment can only take place with the consent of the Palestinian Authority. It rejected any demographic change or forced displacement of Palestinians and reaffirmed its support for a two-state solution based on international law. Participation in the ISF, it added, would not constitute recognition or normalization of political ties with any party.&nbsp;UNSC Resolution 2803, adopted on Nov. 17, 2025, endorses a US-backed framework to end the Gaza conflict and establishes a transitional governance and security structure, including a temporary stabilization force and arrangements for humanitarian access and phased withdrawal of Israeli forces.

An Indonesian Army infantryman participating in the UN's Global Peacekeeping Operation Initiative (GPOI) provides security for a World Food Agency truck. (File photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Asia

Indonesia says any participation in the proposed International Stabilization Force (ISF) in Gaza will remain fully under its national control and subject to strict conditions.

Indonesia sets conditions for 8,000-strong Gaza peacekeeping deployment

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will not become a party to the Abraham Accords and has &ldquo;not decided&rdquo; to join any International Stabilization Force, the Foreign Office said on Thursday, reiterating that Islamabad&rsquo;s position on the issue remains unchanged.&nbsp;Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said during the weekly media briefing that Pakistan&rsquo;s participation in the Board of Peace (BOP) has no connection to the Abraham Accords.&nbsp;&ldquo;It is a misconception that joining the Board of Peace is in any way linked to the Abraham Accords or serves as a sidetrack on this issue,&rdquo; Andrabi said. &ldquo;Pakistan&rsquo;s position remains unchanged, and we will not become a party to the Abraham Accords.&rdquo; The Abraham Accords, signed at the White House on September 15, 2020, during US President Donald Trump&rsquo;s first term, paved the way for the normalization of relations between Israel and several Arab states, beginning with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain and later extending to Morocco.&nbsp;He stressed that the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-joining-board-of-peace-raises-occupied-kashmir-alarm-for-india" target="_blank" style="font-size: 18px;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Board of Peace</a>&nbsp;is not a substitute for the United Nations, saying it was established under a specific mandate authorized by UN Security Council Resolution 2803. Pakistan understands the body is intended to complement, not undermine, the UN system, he added.&nbsp;Andrabi said Pakistan&rsquo;s decision to join the Board of Peace was taken collectively and in line with all procedural requirements under the federal government&rsquo;s Rules of Business.&nbsp;&ldquo;We hope that the framework established by the Board of Peace will lead to concrete steps towards a permanent ceasefire, expanded humanitarian assistance, and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-joining-board-of-peace-raises-occupied-kashmir-alarm-for-india" target="_blank" style="font-size: 18px;" rel="noopener noreferrer">reconstruction</a>&nbsp;of Gaza,&rdquo; he said, adding that Pakistan aims to play a &ldquo;constructive role&rdquo; in alleviating the suffering of Palestinians.&nbsp;Iran&rsquo;s internal affairsResponding to questions on Iran, Andrabi said Pakistan has consistently advocated peace and diplomacy to resolve regional disputes and opposes interference in Iran&rsquo;s internal affairs.&nbsp;&ldquo;We oppose the use of force and the imposition of sanctions,&rdquo; he said, adding that the region cannot afford further conflict as it would undermine economic development and prosperity.&nbsp;He referred to recent diplomatic engagements, including a virtual call between Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and his Iranian counterpart, as well as discussions with the United States, saying Pakistan&rsquo;s position remains focused on dialogue and de-escalation.&nbsp;On Iran&rsquo;s nuclear issue, Andrabi said Pakistan&rsquo;s stance has been clearly articulated in the context of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and subsequent UN Security Council resolutions.&nbsp;&lsquo;Provocative and instigating&rsquo;Turning to Afghanistan, the spokesperson strongly condemned what he described as a &ldquo;provocative&rdquo; and &ldquo;instigating&rdquo; speech by the head of a madrassa in Khost province, calling it harmful to regional peace and stability.&nbsp;&ldquo;Threatening Pakistan with revenge for actions taken against the TTP will further aggravate already strained relations,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;While reiterating Pakistan&rsquo;s desire for a mutually beneficial relationship with Afghanistan, including cooperation on regional connectivity and trade, Andrabi said progress depends on addressing Islamabad&rsquo;s core concern over militancy operating from Afghan territory.

Foreign Affairs

Foreign Office spokesperson says joining the Board of Peace is unrelated to the Abraham Accords, reaffirming Islamabad’s unchanged position and that it will not join the accords.

Pakistan rules out joining Abraham Accords, clarifies peace board role

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&#39;s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said that the United Nations&#39; request to allow humanitarian aid to Afghanistan would be considered, and the process would likely begin on Sunday. He was speaking to the media at the Foreign Office on Saturday. The foreign minister highlighted key official tours and developments that occurred during his recent overseas visits. Speaking on Afghanistan, Dar said that, following a UN request, Pakistan would resume humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. &ldquo;I received a request from the UN via the Foreign Office yesterday to reconsider the suspension of humanitarian aid [food, etc.] for Afghanistan,&rdquo; Dar added. &ldquo;I believe we should take positive action for the common Afghan people,&rdquo; he said. The foreign minister said that he had consulted Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir and would soon consult the prime minister. He said that he was hopeful that permission for humanitarian relief would be granted by tomorrow. &ldquo;We will hopefully grant permission for essential food relief on humanitarian grounds by tomorrow,&rdquo; Dar stated. &#39;Dialogue, diplomacy&#39; preferredDiscussing terrorism-related activities across the country, the foreign minister said that since the Afghan interim regime came into power in 2021, 2,000 people had been martyred while another 20,000 had been injured, stressing that the &ldquo;situation is not sustainable.&rdquo; &ldquo;I stressed that Pakistan has the power to take kinetic action, but that it is undesirable against a brother nation,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;If they don&#39;t resolve the TTP [Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan] issue, we have other options. Dialogue and diplomacy are the answers, but they must look inward and address their weaknesses,&rdquo; he added. &ldquo;It takes two to tango,&rdquo; he remarked. Qatar, T&uuml;rkiye as mediatorsDar recalled that Qatar and T&uuml;rkiye hosted mediation between Pakistan and Afghanistan; however, power centers in Afghanistan prevented a unanimous decision. &ldquo;Qatar and T&uuml;rkiye attempted mediation, but two power centers in Afghanistan prevented decisions from taking effect,&rdquo; he added. Dar stated that Pakistan was prepared to launch a cleanup operation in Afghanistan when Qatar, alongside T&uuml;rkiye, offered to mediate between the two countries.&nbsp; &ldquo;They were likely aware of our planned kinetic operation, and their government was in contact with me on an hourly basis to facilitate mediation,&rdquo; he said. &nbsp;He added that the mediators had to withdraw in embarrassment after the Taliban refused to soften their position. Border issues with AfghanistanRegarding border issues, the foreign minister said that Pakistan had hosted over &ldquo;4 million Afghan brothers for decades.&rdquo; Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said that during his visit to Kabul, the Afghan interim foreign minister informed him that the Taliban had detained around a hundred TTP terrorists along with several of their facilitators. Dar acknowledged the arrests but stressed that &ldquo;this is not enough.&rdquo;&nbsp; He said Kabul had invited Pakistan to send a delegation to verify the detentions, yet Islamabad maintains that far more decisive and sustained action is needed against TTP elements operating from Afghan soil. Recalling the Economic Cooperation Council&#39;s virtual meeting, Dar said that Afghanistan&rsquo;s interim foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, &ldquo;provoked me&rdquo; by accusing Pakistan. The foreign minister reiterated that stability in Afghanistan was imperative for peace and stability in the entire region. Pakistan to &lsquo;positively consider&#39; contributing forces as Gaza peacekeepersResponding to a question on the International Stabilization Force (ISF), Dar said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had given an &ldquo;in principle indication&rdquo; that Pakistan would also positively consider sending its forces. &ldquo;My counterproposal was that if it is not a UN Peacekeeping Force, it must be sanctioned by the UN Security Council. The subsequent US resolution&rsquo;s wording was unacceptable to us.&rdquo; He added that there was &ldquo;a thought&rdquo; that the ISF might be mandated to disarm and de-weaponize Hamas. To this, he stated: &ldquo;We are not ready for that. Our job is peacekeeping, not peace enforcement; that is the role of Palestinian law enforcement agencies.&rdquo;

Security

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar says Pakistan is considering resuming humanitarian aid to Afghanistan following a UN request, stressing regional stability, dialogue over force, and conditional support for international stabilization efforts in Gaza.

Pakistan weighing resumption of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan: FM Dar

ABU DHABI: The United Arab Emirates is not planning to join the international stabilization force for Gaza because it lacks a clear framework, a senior official said on Monday. &quot;The UAE does not yet see a clear framework for the stability force, and under such circumstances will probably not participate in such a force,&quot; Emirati presidential advisor Anwar Gargash told the Abu Dhabi Strategic Debate forum. The US-coordinated international force has been seen as likely to include troops from Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, as well as the UAE. Last week, US President Donald Trump said he expected the force to be in Gaza &quot;very soon&quot;, as a fragile ceasefire holds following two years of war. The oil-rich UAE is one of the few Arab nations with official ties to Israel after signing the Abraham Accords during Trump&#39;s first term in 2020.

Emirati presidential advisor Anwar Gargash says the UAE does not yet see a clear framework for the stability force, and under such circumstances will probably not participate in such a force.

UAE 'probably' won't join Gaza stabilization force: senior official

MANAMA:&nbsp;Jordan and Germany said on Saturday that an international force expected to support a future Palestinian police in Gaza under US President Donald Trump&#39;s post-war governance plan should have a UN mandate. Under the US-brokered ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, a coalition of mainly Arab and Muslim nations is expected to deploy forces in the Palestinian territory, which has been devastated by the war. &lsquo;Security Council mandate&rsquo;The so-called international stabilization force is supposed to train and support vetted Palestinian police in the Strip, with backing from Egypt and Jordan, as well as secure border areas and prevent weapons smuggling to Hamas. &quot;We all agree that in order for that stabilization force to be able to be effective in getting the job done, it has to have a Security Council mandate,&quot; Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said. Jordan, however, will not be sending its own forces to the Strip. &quot;We&#39;re too close to the issue and we cannot deploy troops in Gaza,&quot; Safadi said, adding his country was nonetheless ready to cooperate with the international force. &lsquo;Clear basis in international law&rsquo;Safadi was speaking at the IISS Manama Dialogue conference in Bahrain alongside his German counterpart Johann Wadephul, who also supported a UN mandate for the force, saying it would &quot;need a clear basis in international law&quot;.&nbsp;&quot;We understand that this is of utmost importance to those countries who might be willing to send troops to Gaza and for the Palestinians. Germany would also want to see a clear mandate for this mission,&quot; Wadephul said. &lsquo;a US-led occupation&rsquo;&nbsp;The idea of the stabilization force has drawn some criticism, with UN experts last month warning it would &quot;replace Israeli occupation with a US-led occupation, contrary to Palestinian self-determination&quot;. The UN has mandated international peacekeeping forces in the region for decades, including UNIFIL in southern Lebanon, which is currently working with the Lebanese army to enforce a November 2024 ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel.

The idea of the stabilization force has drawn some criticism, with UN experts last month warning it would 'replace Israeli occupation with a US-led occupation, contrary to Palestinian self-determination'.

Articles tagged with "International Stabilization Force"

Trump officials plan to build 5,000-person military base in Gaza: Guardian

Indonesia sets conditions for 8,000-strong Gaza peacekeeping deployment

Pakistan rules out joining Abraham Accords, clarifies peace board role

Pakistan weighing resumption of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan: FM Dar

UAE 'probably' won't join Gaza stabilization force: senior official

Jordan, Germany say international force in Gaza needs UN mandate