Netanyahu pushed through Gaza stabilization force approval to secure Trump summit

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pressured his security cabinet into approving the deployment of an International Stabilization Force (ISF) into Gaza to secure a summit with US President Donald Trump, Israel's Channel 12 reported Monday (local time).

The White House had shown little interest in meeting with Netanyahu and instead conveyed through diplomatic channels that he would need to arrive in Washington with tangible diplomatic achievements in hand.

After consultations with Yechiel Leiter, Israel's ambassador to the United States, and senior aides to Trump, Netanyahu chose Gaza as the stage on which to demonstrate those results.

Channel 12 reported that Netanyahu fast-tracked a cabinet vote to approve the initial deployment of the ISF — one element of a Gaza initiative led by the Board of Peace — even though Hamas had not yet disarmed.

An Israeli official familiar with the security cabinet deliberations said Netanyahu "pushed through this decision without batting an eye," adding that it amounted to "a gesture toward Trump and a retreat from the security cabinet's previous precondition that Hamas must disarm before the ISF enters Gaza."

The security cabinet approved Monday the initial entry of 200 ISF troops from allied nations to provide perimeter security for a pilot humanitarian zone to be established in Rafah, in southern Gaza, under the Board of Peace initiative.

The ISF is a multinational peacekeeping force established under the Gaza peace deal concluded last October and UN Security Council Resolution 2803. It is tasked with overseeing the full demilitarization of Gaza, maintaining security along border areas, protecting humanitarian corridors and civilians, and training a new Palestinian police force.

Netanyahu departed Israel through an air force base rather than Ben Gurion International Airport, with no advance announcement, for security reasons. He is scheduled to meet with Trump in Washington on Tuesday.