Security establishment warns: Stabilization force in Gaza will limit the IDF and strengthen Hamas
The Cabinet approved granting immunity to the international force ahead of its entry into areas of the Strip, despite requests in Israel to postpone the move until Hamas is demilitarized and disarmed. Meanwhile, security officials warn that the move will reduce the IDF's freedom of action, erode its achievements, and allow Hamas to rehabilitate.
The United States is pushing Israel to move forward with the rehabilitation of the Gaza Strip even before its demilitarization and the disarmament of Hamas — this is what political and security sources said today (Sunday). The security establishment estimates that the entry of international stabilization forces into the Strip could limit the IDF's freedom of offensive action, weaken its ability to act against terrorist organizations, and strengthen Hamas.
The remarks were made after the Security Cabinet approved this evening the granting of immunity to the International Stabilization Force (ISF) ahead of its entry into certain areas of the Gaza Strip.
A political source explained that the principled approval for the entry of the force was included in the 20-point plan of US President Donald Trump, which led to the release of all hostages. According to him, after the entry of about 200 representatives from friendly countries, including Uganda and Morocco, was approved, Israel continues to insist that the IDF hold the 'yellow line' and not withdraw from it as long as Hamas is not disarmed and the Strip is not fully demilitarized.
However, it has come to the attention of Walla that political and security officials asked the Americans to postpone the continuation of the move so as not to erode the IDF's achievements. The request was rejected, and it was clarified to them that the progress is being made in accordance with the will of Donald Trump.
The security establishment argues that the move normalizes Hamas's situation and allows it to choose new leadership, rehabilitate its military wing, re-establish its rule, and deepen its grip on the Palestinian street through intimidation and violence. According to them, only the IDF is capable of demilitarizing the Strip of weaponry and disarming Hamas, not a multinational force.
Security sources also cast doubt on the ability to establish a 'green city' in Rafah that is free of terror. According to their assessment, Hamas will continue to terrorize the population, control events from afar, and exploit the move for its own needs, among other things through smuggling from Egypt and the establishment of new terrorist infrastructure.
Military sources familiar with the process said that any progress in introducing multinational forces into the Strip prevents Israel from demilitarizing the area and contradicts the American commitment that Hamas must first be disarmed and only then should progress be made on rehabilitation. 'In practice, the exact opposite is happening,' they said.
They further estimated that the introduction of forces from countries friendly to Israel would increase sensitivity to any military action in the Strip, weaken the IDF's operational initiative, and limit its ability to act against terrorist organizations.
Meanwhile, the 'Atid LaOtef' movement reacted sharply to the Cabinet's decision and demanded a clear answer from the government as to whether the decision makes the residents of the Gaza envelope safer. 'If the answer is not unequivocal — it must not be moved forward,' the movement clarified, emphasizing that they will not agree to rehabilitate Gaza before the threat is removed and will not return to the reality of October 6. According to them, the residents of the envelope have already paid the heaviest price for security concepts that turned out to be a failure, and they are not prepared to accept any more decisions based on hopes or promises.
The movement clarified that the lesson of October 7 must be the basis for any decision: 'Any process of rehabilitation, settlement, or political move must begin only after Hamas ceases to be a military and governing threat. It is impossible to talk about the 'day after' when there is still no certainty that the threat of 'yesterday' has been removed.' They further emphasized that any future outline must include effective monitoring and control mechanisms that will ensure Israel's security freedom of action, real-time intelligence capability, and early detection of any renewed terrorist organization.
