The Hebrew daily “Maariv” has highlighted what it described as the “collapse of Trump’s plan” due to the refusal of several countries to send forces to Gaza under the American president’s proposed framework. The report noted that the ceasefire in Gaza now faces a serious challenge.
According to Maariv, this challenge lies in the reluctance of many nations to contribute troops to an international security force in the Gaza Strip, as revealed by The New York Times. Trump’s so-called peace plan had envisioned the formation of such a force. However, diplomats and officials involved in the discussions expressed growing fears regarding the risks, ambiguity of the mission, and concerns that such a deployment would be perceived as an “occupying force.”
Contradictions Between Trump’s Claims and Reality
The paper pointed out that these details contradict Trump’s public statements, in which he claimed the opposite during a press conference, saying:
“There are countries that called me after seeing the killings committed by Hamas, expressing their desire to intervene and help resolve the situation.”
However, Maariv reports that behind these political claims, no concrete progress has been made toward building the force Trump proposed.
The Framework of the “Trump Plan”
According to the twenty-point plan put forward by Trump, which led to a temporary ceasefire in Gaza and a prisoner-exchange deal, a temporary international stabilization force would be deployed in the Strip. Its role would include:
- Securing the areas from which the Israeli occupation army withdraws;
- Preventing arms smuggling into Gaza;
- Assisting in distributing humanitarian aid; and
- Training a Palestinian police force.
Maariv stressed that establishing and deploying this force is vital for turning the current ceasefire into a sustainable agreement, and for what Trump described as “building a stable peace” between Israelis and Palestinians.
Yet, the reality described by diplomats paints a very different picture.
No Real Progress — and Fears of Another Occupation
Quoting The New York Times, Maariv said little to no progress has been made in forming this international force, largely due to confusion and lack of clarity about its mission — which remains the biggest obstacle.
Representatives of several countries considered potential contributors reportedly stated in private that they would not commit troops without a clear mandate defining their role in Gaza.
The report added that many countries fear their troops might be asked to fight Hamas fighters on Israel’s behalf, effectively making them part of a new occupation force. Some even indicated that they refuse to deploy their forces inside Gaza’s urban centres, citing the risks posed by Hamas’ underground tunnel network and the volatile security situation.
Analysis: A Failing Blueprint and Political Illusion
While Trump markets his proposal as a step toward peace, the lack of international will to participate reveals what many in the region already see — a plan designed to secure Israel’s interests under the banner of stability.
The so-called “international force” would, in reality, extend the occupation’s control through new means, replacing soldiers with proxies. For Palestinians, such plans underscore the continued Western disregard for their sovereignty and the failure of imposed political formulas that ignore the root cause: the ongoing Israeli siege and occupation of Gaza.
