US Advances Gaza Stabilization Force Amid Israeli Denials and Gaza Health Crisis

The United States is actively advancing the establishment of an international stabilization force in Gaza, despite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office denying any official approval for its deployment. The Trump administration has allocated over $206 million to support the force, including $200 million for infrastructure, equipment, and operations, plus $6 million to convert armored vehicles for its use. While Israel's cabinet approved legal measures in late July to facilitate the force's operation, including immunity provisions, actual deployment requires further political authorization, which has not yet been granted.

The planned force, initially about 200 personnel from friendly countries, is intended to operate in coordination with the Israel Defense Forces and in areas outside their control, focusing on stabilizing Gaza, supporting disarmament, training a new Palestinian police force, and securing humanitarian aid delivery. However, key issues remain unresolved, such as who will disarm Hamas and manage weapons destruction, with some contributing countries reluctant to engage in combat operations against Hamas.

Meanwhile, Gaza faces a severe ongoing health crisis. The Gaza Health Ministry reports approximately 80 million tons of rubble complicate the search for thousands of missing persons and the recovery of bodies beneath collapsed buildings. The death toll from the conflict is estimated at around 73,000, including 21,000 children, with about 174,000 injured. Rescue teams have struggled due to equipment shortages, and officials are calling for heavy machinery and protective gear to aid recovery efforts amid hazardous conditions, including asbestos exposure.

Additionally, Gaza is experiencing an unusual outbreak of monkeypox, with over 58,000 cases reported since early 2026. Overcrowding in displacement sites, contaminated water, collapsed sanitation systems, and hygiene shortages are exacerbating the spread. International organizations also highlight a persistent public health emergency due to widespread damage to water and sewage infrastructure, increasing the risk of infectious diseases among the densely packed population.

The situation underscores the complexities of stabilizing Gaza amid political, security, and humanitarian challenges, with the US pushing forward on the stabilization force while Israel maintains a cautious stance, and Gaza's population endures a mounting health emergency.