Rubio: We need to clarify ISF mandate before we can expect countries to contribute troops

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the Trump administration will have to clarify the mandate of the International Stabilization Force before it can expect to secure troop commitments from participating countries.

“In fairness to all the countries we’ve talked to about having a presence on the ground, I think they want to know specifically what the mandate will be and what the funding mechanism,” Rubio says in a press conference when asked whether the US has secured a commitment from Pakistan to contribute troops to the foreign force that will be tasked with gradually phasing the IDF out of Gaza and securing the postwar Strip.

“We’re very grateful to Pakistan for their offer to consider being a part of it, [but] I think we owe them a few more answers before we can ask anybody to firmly commit,” Rubio says, appearing to confirm Islamabad’s interest.

“I feel very confident that we have a number of nation states acceptable to all sides [that] are willing to step forward and be a part of that stabilization force,” he says against the backdrop of The Times of Israel’s reporting that the US is struggling to find countries willing to contribute troops to the ISF.

“We’re trying to make a lot of progress here. The next step is announcing the Board of Peace, announcing the Palestinian technocratic [committee] that will help provide daily governance,” Rubio says.

“Once that’s in place, that will allow us to firm up the stabilization force, including how it’s going to be paid for, what the rules of engagement are, what their role will be in demilitarization and so forth,” he adds.

Rubio says the full implementation of phase two will likely take two or three years. The Palestinian Authority is hoping to take over management of Gaza from the Board of Peace in a shorter timeframe.