Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan poses with his counterparts Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud of Saudi Arabia, Ayman Safadi of Jordan, and Sugiono of Indonesia before their meeting on Gaza, in Istanbul, Turkey, Nov. 3, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Murad Sezer

The United States has proposed a draft resolution for an international force in Gaza as Turkey seeks a role in post-war reconstruction, raising concerns that Ankara’s growing influence in the enclave could strengthen Hamas.

On Monday, Washington sent a draft resolution to members of the United Nations Security Council, proposing the creation of an International Stabilization Force (ISF) in Gaza that would remain for at least two years, according to several media reports.

Under US President Donald Trump’s peace plan, such a force will oversee the Gaza ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and train local security forces.

Based on the proposed draft resolution, participating countries in the international force would be granted a broad mandate to maintain security and administer the war-torn enclave through the end of 2027, with the possibility of extending the mission. Troop deployments are expected to begin as early as January.

In recent weeks, Washington has been working closely with regional powers to determine the composition of the peacekeeping force, with Turkey seeking to play a central role in the enclave.

However, Israel has repeatedly opposed any involvement of Turkish security forces in post-war Gaza.

Experts have warned that Turkey, a key backer of Hamas, could shield the Islamist group in Gaza or even strengthen its terrorist infrastructure as it seeks a central role in post-war efforts.

According to the draft resolution, the ISF would include troops from multiple participating countries and would be responsible for securing Gaza’s borders with Israel and Egypt, while also protecting civilians and maintaining humanitarian corridors.

The ISF would also “stabilize the security environment in Gaza by ensuring the process of demilitarizing the [enclave], including the destruction and prevention of rebuilding of military, terror, and offensive infrastructure, as well as the permanent decommissioning of weapons from non-state armed groups,” the draft states. 

Under this plan, the international force would seemingly take on the responsibility of disarming Hamas, the Palestinian terrorist group that violently seized total control of Gaza in 2007 after being elected to power in parliamentary elections the prior year.

As Turkey aims to secure a role in post-war Gaza, the country has been leading efforts, along with six other regional powers, to establish a Palestinian-led self-rule in the enclave after the war.

This week, the foreign ministers of the so-called “guarantor countries” under Trump’s peace plan — Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Pakistan, and Indonesia — met in Istanbul to discuss Gaza’s future and potential steps following the ceasefire.

At the summit, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan called on Muslim nations to wield their influence in shaping Gaza’s reconstruction and future governance.

“Our principle is that Palestinians should govern the Palestinians and ensure their own security,” Fidan said during a press conference. “The international community should support this in the best possible way — diplomatically, institutionally, and economically.”

“Nobody wants to see a new system of tutelage emerge,” the top Turkish diplomat continued. “We’ve now reached an extremely critical stage: We do not want the genocide in Gaza to resume.”

On Saturday, Fidan met with Hamas senior negotiator Khalil al-Hayya and several key members of the group’s political leadership to discuss the current ceasefire and ongoing diplomatic efforts.

Shortly after the meeting, the Turkish diplomat asserted that the Palestinian terrorist group was “ready to hand over Gaza to a committee of Palestinians.”

Hamas has consistently rejected disarmament, insisting on keeping its weapons and controlling security in Gaza during an interim period.

Under phase one of Trump’s ceasefire plan, the Israeli military controls 53 percent of Gaza’s territory. Hamas, meanwhile, controls the other 47 percent, where the vast majority of the Gazan population is located.

Since the ceasefire went into effect, Hamas terrorists have brutally cracked down on all rivals and dissenters, with videos emerging of rampant torture and public executions in the streets. The Algemeiner reported last week that four Israel-backed militias fighting Hamas are moving to fill the power vacuum, pledging to cooperate with most international forces involved in rebuilding the enclave but vowing to resist any presence from Qatar, Turkey, or Iran — all three of which have supported Hamas for years.

At the Istanbul summit, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has maintained an openly hostile stance toward the Jewish state, reiterated that Hamas was “determined to adhere to the [ceasefire] agreement” and called on Muslim states to play “a leading role” in Gaza’s recovery.

According to Trump’s peace plan, Gaza would be governed by a “technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee” after the war, with the supervision of an international body called the “Board of Peace.”

Under the proposed framework, the ISF is designed to maintain security in Gaza during this transition period, as Israel gradually withdraws from additional areas of the enclave.

While the plan specifies that Hamas would be excluded from post-war governance, the Palestinian Authority (PA) could potentially take control of Gaza after undergoing internal reforms.

The PA, which has long been riddled with accusations of corruption, has maintained for years a so-called “pay-for-slay” program, which rewards terrorists and their families for carrying out attacks against Israelis.

Israel has rejected any role for Hamas or the PA in governing Gaza after the war.

Former US Vice President Dick Cheney speaks at the Republican Jewish Coalition’s annual meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada, Feb. 24, 2017. Photo: REUTERS/David Becker

Former US Vice President Dick Cheney died on Monday at 84, according to a statement released by his family, prompting condolences from Israel, the Jewish community, and longtime colleagues.

“We are grateful beyond measure for all Dick Cheney did for our country. And we are blessed beyond measure to have loved and been loved by this noble giant of a man,” the family’s statement read, naming pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease as the cause of death

Cheney, born Jan. 30, 1941, in Lincoln, Nebraska, served the United States in multiple capacities during a long political career which included roles as White House chief of staff to President Richard Nixon, congressman from Wyoming, secretary of defense for President George H.W. Bush, and vice president for President George W. Bush. Cheney also served as CEO and chairman of the board for oil company Halliburton.

Following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on US soil, Cheney emerged as one of the voices in the second Bush administration urging for a robust engagement to defeat the chief perpetrator Osama bin Laden, his al Qaeda terrorist group, and their allies.

Cheney is survived by his wife Lynne, their daughters Mary and Liz, and grandchildren.

Israeli leadership issued statements in response to Cheney’s death.

“I heard with great sorrow of the passing of former US Vice President Dick Cheney, a great friend and steadfast supporter of the State of Israel. My deepest condolences to his family and to the American people,” Israeli President Isaac Herzog said in a statement.

“The passing of former US Vice President Dick Cheney marks the loss of a great American patriot, a devoted public servant, and a dear friend of Israel,” added Yechiel Leiter, the Israeli ambassador to Washington. “His leadership and his belief in the strength of the US–Israel alliance will not be forgotten. My thoughts are with his family and the American people.”

Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on X that it “mourns the passing of former US Vice President Dick Cheney – a steadfast friend of Israel and a true champion of the US–Israel alliance. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and to the American people.”

American Jewish and pro-Israel organizations also remembered Cheney.

“Throughout a distinguished if controversial career in public service, Vice President Dick Cheney defended America against terror threats and shaped vital strategic partnerships across the Middle East, critically strengthening the security of Israel, America’s democratic ally,” the American Jewish Committee said in a statement. “AJC expresses our condolences to the Cheney family.”

The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) said in its own statement that the group mourns “the passing of Dick Cheney, the 46th vice president of the United States and a dedicated public servant who was a friend to the Jewish community and played a significant role in strengthening the strategic partnership between the United States and the State of Israel. Throughout his decades of service, Vice President Cheney maintained enduring relationships with Jewish communal leaders and institutions, engaging in serious dialogue on matters of global security and the protection of Jewish communities worldwide.”

JFNA described how Cheney “demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the security of Israel. He stood firmly for Israel’s right to defend itself against terrorism and consistently recognized the shared democratic values and strategic interests that bind our two nations. His leadership helped deepen military cooperation and advance policies that enhanced Israel’s security in a volatile region.”

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) also mourned Cheney’s death.

“We send our deepest condolences to the family of former US Vice President Dick Cheney. We were honored to present Mr. Cheney with ADL’s Distinguished Public Service Award in 1993 for his role in reshaping the US military as secretary of defense from 1989-92,” the group said in a statement.

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) posted online that the group “mourns the passing of Vice President Cheney who was a strong supporter of the US-Israel partnership.  As vice president, secretary of defense, and during his years in Congress, Dick Cheney worked to strengthen the ties between the two democracies. We extend our condolences to his family and those who worked with him over his many years in public service.”

Cheney’s political allies memorialized him in their remarks.

George W. Bush released a statement, calling his former running mate’s death “a loss to the nation and a sorrow to his friends. Laura and I will remember Dick Cheney for the decent, honorable man that he was. History will remember him as among the finest public servants of his generation – a patriot who brought integrity, high intelligence, and seriousness of purpose to every position he held.”

Bush described Cheney as “a calm and steady presence in the White House amid great national challenges. I counted on him for his honest, forthright counsel, and he never failed to give his best. He held to his convictions and prioritized the freedom and security of the American people. For those two terms in office, and throughout his remarkable career, Dick Cheney’s service always reflected credit on the country he loved.”

Condoleezza Rice, the former US secretary of state who now leads the Hoover Institution as the conservative think tank’s director, reflected on Cheney’s national service.

“I admired Vice President Cheney for his integrity and his love of our country. I am grateful that I had the chance to serve with him twice — when he was secretary of defense for President George H.W. Bush at the end of the Cold War — a triumphant time for America and its values,” she said in a statement. “And then when as vice president, he helped to chart a course to protect America after the dark days of 9/11. He was an inspiring presence and mentor who taught me a great deal about public service.”

Rice added that, “most of all, I will remember Dick Cheney as a mentor and a friend. I will remember his toughness but also his sense of humor. He was indefatigable in his determination to defend this country and patriotic to his core.”

A man holds a Torah after Simchat Torah, at Hostages Square, in Tel Aviv, Israel on Oct. 14, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Hannah McKay

The Birthright Israel Foundation, which has afforded hundreds of thousands of Jewish youth all expenses paid trips to Israel, announced on Monday night a new “Generations Campaign” to raise $900 million that will fund 200,000 more trips over the next five years.

The organization, which has brought more than 900,000 participants from 70 countries to Israel, announced the new effort to coincide with the commemoration of its 25th anniversary, noting that it aims to raise $650 million from US donors and secure $250 million in “legacy and planned giving commitments to ensure Birthright Israel’s strength and impact for generations to come.”

“Generations” is already being generously supported, Birthright added, with $130 million raised so far and another $80 million pledged as “legacy commitments” that will sustain the program at a time when Jewish students, facing a historic antisemitism crisis across the Western world, crave a connection to Israel more than ever before.

“Birthright Israel’s extraordinary impact is proven. In just 25 years, it has become a rite of passage for Jewish young adults and a launchpad for lifelong engagement in Jewish life,” Bright Israel Foundation president and chief executive officer Elias Saratovsky said in a statement. “It has strengthened Jewish organizations, helped build proud Jewish families, and created resilient, knowledgeable leaders — the kind our community needs at this historic moment.”

He continued, “Imagine a new generation of Jews standing strong and united, advocating for Israel, raising Jewish families, and connected to one global Jewish community. This is not a dream — it is the world Birthright is creating.”

Birthright Israel co-founder and philanthropist Charles Bronfman, added, “Twenty-five years ago, Michal Steinhardt and I had the audacious idea to offer every Jewish young adult in the diaspora a free trip to Israel, a gift from our generation to theirs. My dear friend, Lynn Schusterman, helped turn this idea into a global movement. Birthright Israel has become a household name … This program belongs to the Jewish people. May it continue to go from strength to strength”

The “Generations” campaign arrives at a challenging moment for the Jewish community in which antisemitic hate crimes see year-on-year increases and anti-Zionists are mobilizing to sever the Jewish people’s connection to their ancient homeland.

According to the results of a recent survey commissioned by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the Jewish Federations of North America, a majority of American Jews now consider antisemitism to be a normal and endemic aspect of life in the US. A striking 57 percent reported believing “that antisemitism is now a normal Jewish experience,” the organizations disclosed, while 55 percent said they have personally witnessed or been subjected to antisemitic hatred, including physical assaults, threats, and harassment, in the past year.

This new reality, precipitated by Hamas’s Oct.7, 2023, massacre across southern Israel, has effected a psychological change in American Jews, prompting firearms sales, disaster planning, and “plans to flee the country.”

Antisemitic incidents continue to feed the impression that such thinking is not only logical but necessary.

Last month, a self-proclaimed neo-Nazi in Missoula, Montana was charged for allegedly assaulting a Jewish man outside a homeless shelter on the second anniversary of Hamas’s Oct. 7 invasion. Michael Cain, 29, was charged with felony malicious intimidation or harassment relating to civil or human rights, and his bond was set at $50,000. He allegedly accosted the victim after identifying a Star of David tattooed on his arm.

Cain also reportedly told the victim that he is a Nazi, initiating an exchange of remarks which ended with a brutal assault replete with kicks and punches. According to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Cain later told police that he is part of a “Fourth Reich” fifth-column cell in the US.

More recently, on Friday, police in Ann Arbor, Michigan, launched a search for a man who trespassed the grounds of the Jewish Resource Center, which serves University of Michigan students, and kicked its door while howling antisemitic statements.

“F—k Israel, f—k the Jewish people,” the man — whom multiple reports describe as white, “college-age,” and possibly named “Jake” or “Jay” — screamed before running away. He did not damage the property, and he may have been accompanied by as many as two other people, one of whom him shouted “no!” when he ran up to the building.

Saratovsky called on the Jewish people to safeguard the diaspora’s access to Israel.

“We need every Jewish person to join us in this effort — to stand together, invest together, and ensure that every young Jew feels proud, connected, and ready to lead,” he said. “Birthright benefits the entire Jewish world, and it must be supported by the entire Jewish world. The Jewish future is up to all of us.”

Follow Dion J. Pierre @DionJPierre.