Azerbaijan sends message it won’t risk its soldiers’ lives in Gaza, writes Israel Hayom

Israeli assessments increasingly show the International Stabilization Force for Gaza, designed to disarm Hamas, won’t materialize. Establishing the force represents a central element of Donald Trump’s 20-point plan for ending the war and was incorporated into Security Council Resolution 2803 approved last week. Yet no nation globally has expressed readiness to have its forces directly engage Hamas fighters.

Israel Hayom has learned that Azerbaijan – an ally of Israel that considered joining the force several weeks ago – conveyed in recent days the message that it will not agree to endanger the lives of its soldiers in Gaza. In Baku, as in other countries, officials are currently discussing participation in the ISF as part of reconstruction processes and maintaining calm, but not at the stage currently required of disarming Hamas and demilitarizing the Strip.