The Trump administration is planning to appoint an American two-star general to command the International Stabilization Force in Gaza, Axios reported in a story published Thursday morning. Separately, U.S. officials told European diplomats this morning that Israel's military will not withdraw from Gaza unless European countries send soldiers to the ISF or support nations that do. Barak Ravid, citing Axios, reported on X that the message to European diplomats was: "If you are not ready to go to Gaza, don't complain that the IDF stays." The communication occurred during discussions amid ongoing efforts to establish the ISF for post-conflict stabilization in Gaza. The Axios article detailed the planned U.S. leadership role for the ISF, which aims to secure Gaza following Israeli military operations. No specific name for the general or timeline for the appointment was provided in the report shared by Ravid at approximately 8:00 AM UTC within the 6:16 AM to 9:16 AM UTC reporting window. These developments reflect U.S. efforts to internationalize security responsibilities in Gaza, with the Trump administration, elected in 2024, pushing for broader participation to enable an Israeli Defense Forces withdrawal.
