by Sanaa Kamal
GAZA, July 29 (Xinhua) -- Israel's recent approval of a 200-member multinational force into Gaza marks an attempt to move post-war discussions from political proposals toward practical arrangements, Palestinian analysts said, though questions remain over the force's mandate and whether it can bridge unresolved disagreements between Israel and Hamas.
The Israeli security cabinet approved the entry of the International Stabilization Force (ISF) on Sunday. A senior Israeli official said the military would continue to hold the "yellow line" in Gaza and withdraw only if Hamas disarms.
The ISF, created under a Gaza peace deal and endorsed by the UN Security Council in November last year, will receive legal immunity under Israeli law and operate in coordination with the Israeli military outside its control zones, with participation limited to countries maintaining diplomatic relations with Israel.
POLITICAL COVER FOR TRANSITIONAL PHASE
Gaza-based Palestinian political analyst Akram Atallah said the timing of the approval, ahead of a meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump, reflects Israel's attempt to show responsiveness to U.S. pressure.
"The timing of the announcement is significant because it came before the meeting ... at a time when Washington wants to see progress on the Gaza file," he told Xinhua.
Atallah said the force's initial role would be more political than security-oriented, providing "international cover for the national committee expected to manage civilian and humanitarian affairs in Gaza."
A SYMBOLIC MOVE, NOT A SECURITY SHIFT
Gaza-based Palestinian political analyst Ahed Ferwana viewed the 200-person force as largely symbolic, saying the limited size does not necessarily reflect a fundamental change in Israel's position.
Ferwana linked the deployment to Israeli plans for establishing so-called "humanitarian zones," particularly in southern Gaza's Rafah, where areas could operate under a form of security coordination between Israel and the international force.
"These plans could lead to concentrating Palestinians in specific areas while reducing the areas outside Israeli control," he said.
Ferwana said without agreement on withdrawal, governance, and reconstruction, the force could remain limited in its ability to influence conditions on the ground.
"The issue is not only about the presence of international personnel, but about the political framework surrounding their deployment," he noted.
LEGAL SAFEGUARDS, CIVILIAN PROTECTION
Ahmed Hamad, a Gaza-based expert in international law, said Palestinian civilians remain protected persons under international humanitarian law.
The presence of an international force or the creation of designated areas does not alter Palestinians' legal status or reduce their fundamental rights, he told Xinhua.
Hamad stressed that "any relocation or movement of civilians must be temporary, justified by military necessity or humanitarian reasons, and followed by allowing people to return to their original areas once those reasons end."
Such measures must not result in permanent changes to the territory's legal, geographic or demographic status, he noted.
He added that any international force must have a clearly defined mandate, respect international law, and remain subject to international oversight, warning that temporary measures could create legal concerns if prolonged without sufficient justification. ■
