As international diplomatic efforts in Gaza shift to postwar stabilization and reconstruction, experts caution that Arab states will likely hesitate to send troops or contribute funding without firm US backing and clear political guarantees that Hamas will disarm and the conflict will not resume.

This presents a test for Washington’s postwar blueprint. The United States has pushed for an international stabilization force to oversee Gaza’s transition and to train Palestinian police — part of President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan aimed at preventing Hamas’ resurgence while laying the groundwork for a reformed Palestinian Authority (PA) presence in the Strip.  

But things aren’t looking all that stable. On Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered immediate “powerful” military strikes in Gaza after Israeli officials said its troops came under fire from Hamas militants in the southern city of Rafah, resulting in the death of one Israeli soldier. Hamas denied responsibility for the attack. The Israeli strikes on Tuesday killed at least 104 people, according to Palestinian news agency Wafa.

Meanwhile, as Israeli forces pull back from several areas of the strip, Hamas fighters are reportedly regrouping across parts of the enclave, particularly in Gaza City, reasserting their control by executing rivals and those accused of having cooperated with Israel.