Analysts have poured cold water on the European Union committing troops to an interim international peacekeeping force on the ground in Gaza if Israel succeeds in overthrowing Hamas in the territory it has controlled since 2007.
Since the Palestinian Islamist militant group launched its surprise attack on Oct. 7, killing 1,400 people and taking at least 240 hostages, the Israeli military has been bombarding the Gaza Strip with air strikes and has begun a ground operation in the enclave, encircling Gaza City and ordering civilians to evacuate to the south. The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry said more than 9,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the war erupted, mostly women and children. There has been much condemnation of Israel’s military response from Arab states, while the European Union and the United States have supported Israel’s right to defend itself, but stressed international law must be adhered to and civilian deaths must be minimized.
The IDF's main stated war objectives are to destroy Hamas and ensure the safe return of the hostages. If they are successful in their first aim, there will need to be a plan for Gaza's governance. Reuters reported on Thursday, citing sources familiar with the matter, that the US and Israel were exploring options for the future of the Gaza Strip, including a possible multinational force to keep the peace until a more stable leadership is established.
European disagreements
