Diplomatic officials confirmed to Israel Hayom that ahead of President Donald Trump's expected declaration in approximately two weeks regarding the establishment of a Gaza reconstruction oversight council, intense negotiations are underway to form the multinational force slated to enter the Strip and assume security responsibility. According to sources, President Trump is pushing specifically for this force following his meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The multinational force takes shape
It remains unclear which specific nations Trump referenced when discussing those who would deploy troops to disarm Hamas. During the press conference, President Trump warned that the Islamic terrorist organization has a limited window to surrender its weapons – as it previously pledged.
He added that numerous nations are prepared to send troops to Gaza, noting that some possess the capability to disarm Hamas. One possibility is that this refers to Turkey or Pakistan – two radical Islamic nations whose military presence on the southern border would be unacceptable to Israel. However, officials stressed that no forces would be deployed without Israeli consent, meaning – no soldiers from these specific countries.
"They know Hamas up close"
A diplomatic official familiar with the details told Israel Hayom that the plan actually points toward a Palestinian force. The official cited Trump's remarks, which described the intended force as one that "knows Hamas up close." The source noted that hundreds of Palestinian security personnel have been stationed at a training camp in Egypt for months, and according to Egyptian officials, this force is expected to expand soon.
Israel Hayom previously revealed that the Palestinian Authority conveyed messages to the United States and mediators expressing willingness to take responsibility for weapons collection. Many of the Palestinians currently training in Egypt are former PA security personnel.
At the press conference, when asked about PA involvement in Gaza's reconstruction, Netanyahu replied that "this is conditioned on far-reaching reforms, first and foremost – stopping payments to terrorists and their families and a radical change in the Palestinian education system," which is currently saturated with anti-Israel and antisemitic messaging. Hussein al-Sheikh, the deputy to PA President Mahmoud Abbas, reportedly committed to Arab leaders in the UAE and Saudi Arabia that these reforms would be implemented rapidly.
Critical presence
At least some US administration officials maintain that the PA's presence is critical for ending the war and facilitating reconstruction, including the disarmament of Hamas. Israel objects partly due to the composition of the current government, as Religious Zionism (a right-wing party led by Bezalel Smotrich) and Otzma Yehudit (a far-right faction led by Itamar Ben-Gvir) reject any ties with the Authority and demand the establishment of Jewish settlements in the Strip. It is possible that alongside the military conscription bill, this issue could trigger early elections.
On Tuesday night, Israel Hayom revealed that President Trump updated Prime Minister Netanyahu that on January 15, he will announce the launch of his Gaza plan, including the establishment of an international oversight body he will likely chair. Trump stated in the meeting that a civil governing body will also be established in the coming weeks to prepare for the transfer of power away from Hamas.
According to diplomatic officials, Netanyahu did not object to Trump's statements. The Israeli delegation explained that these are merely declarations with no immediate practical significance on the ground. However, another diplomatic official clarified that Trump's words were not phrased as a question – but as a determination, leaving Netanyahu no room for objection.
Strategy on Iran
Regarding Iran, Trump issued declarations regarding a potential strike should Tehran advance its nuclear and missile programs. Israel Hayom has learned that in a meeting with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who was accompanied by senior military commanders, officials discussed the lessons learned from the war in Iran in June.
The primary conclusion was that the international coalition that helped defend Israel – which included Arab nations such as Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE – recorded a major strategic success. Consequently, the joint command led by US Central Command (CENTCOM) will expand its operations. It was also determined that the Kiryat Gat Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC), which oversees preparations for the next stage in the Strip, will expand its scope and transfer part of its operations to a forward command post on the Gaza border.
