When world leaders gathered in Egypt last October to celebrate the cease-fire in Gaza, U.S. President Donald Trump was triumphant. “Nobody thought this could happen,” he said of the peace agreement. “Prayers of millions have finally been answered.” By stopping the fighting, he declared, “we’ve done a lot of the hardest part.”
Trump’s excitement was understandable. It took two years of war and tough negotiations to reach “phase one” of his peace plan: the cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and the return of the hostages. But to move from a cease-fire to a enduring peace,negotiators will need to disarm and dethrone Hamas. And so far, the group has largely refused to give up its weapons. Actually, Hamas is reasserting its authority across much of the Gaza Strip by killing off its competitors and repeatedly firing on the Israel Defense Forces.As a result, the IDF cannot pull out of gaza.Billions of dollars in reconstruction aid remains tied up. As long as Hamas remains in power, establishing a new governing body for the enclave comprised of Palestinian technocrats, as Trump has called for, will achieve little. The odds of renewed war will only increase.
There is no easy way to keep Hamas down. The IDF wants more time to rest, refit, and re-equip, and Israel would likely suffer from additional political and diplomatic repercussions if it launched a renewed ground offensive in Gaza.The Palestinian Authority’s forces are not strong enough to fight Hamas, nor are they interested. And the states willing to join Trump’s proposed international stabilization force for Gaza do not want their troops fighting against the group.
But there is a fourth option: private military contractors. Operating under the right rules of engagement and in accordance with Western best practices,private contractors have a track record of successfully operating in tough environments.Many contractors, for example, helped the U.S. military during its war on terror. In Gaza, such forces, if properly supervised, could effectively and responsibly clear areas of Hamas militants and infrastructure. Contractors,simply put,could successfully limit Hamas’s power over Gaza and its populace.Gazans might then get the new day they so desperately deserve.
WRONG RESUME
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Hamas was battered by Israel’s military operations,but it was by no means destroyed. It still controls much of its extensive prewar tunnel network and a multitude of booby-trapped buildings.It retains the capacity to make improvised explosive devices and the ability to resupply via drones flown in from Egypt’s Sinai peninsula. On the first day of the cease-fire, Hamas mobilized around 7,000 fighters in order to reassert its authority over the enclave. It is both rebuilding and reasserting itself across the half of Gaza that isn’t occupied by Israel, which is where almost all of the strip’s two million residents live. The organization is thus jeopardizing what is already a very fragile cease-fire. If Hamas continues to gain strength,Israel may need to ramp up its military operations by conducting more airstrikes and renew ground operations-an outcome everyone should want to avoid.
In theory, United Nations forces could move into the western half of Gaza instead of the IDF. UN forces have been employed to maintain and enforce other cease-fires in the region, and they could try to displace Hamas, particularly after the UN Security Council has endorsed Trump’s peace plan.But given the political constraints under which UN forces have traditionally operated,such peacekeepers would likely prove ineffective-much as they have in Lebanon,where they failed to stymie the rearmament of Hezbollah and halt its military deployments south of the Litani River. Israel would also be reluctant to accept UN forces after some of the organization’s aid workers played a role in the October 7 attack and as of the risk that UN troops will come under pleasant fire when the IDF inevitably needs to carry out operations.And even if all these obstacles were to dissipate,UN peacekeepers are just that-peacekeepers. They are not equipped to handle a situation in which Hamas becomes powerful enough that intensive military action is needed.
Israel has more experience working with the Palestinian Authori
Private Military Contractors as an Alternative to Stabilization Forces in Gaza
Following the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas and the subsequent conflict in Gaza, discussions have emerged regarding potential stabilization forces for the region. Some analysts suggest that private military contractors (PMCs) could offer a viable alternative to traditional international stabilization forces (ISF) or United Nations peacekeeping operations, perhaps offering a more effective and manageable solution.
Effectiveness Compared to International Forces
Private military contractors may have a comparable, or even superior, chance of success in stabilizing Gaza compared to an international stabilization force or UN peacekeepers. This assessment stems from the complex political landscape and the specific challenges of operating against a non-state actor like Hamas. The inherent difficulties in achieving consensus among nations contributing to an ISF, coupled with the potential for restrictive rules of engagement, could hinder their effectiveness.
according to a report by the Washington Institute for Near east Policy, contractors could potentially navigate the complexities of the region more effectively than traditional forces. https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/private-military-companies-gaza-stabilization
Management and Coordination
Managing private contractors could prove simpler than coordinating with an ISF or UN peacekeeping operation. The united States security Coordinator (USSC) for Israel and the Palestinian Authority-a U.S. government team focused on bolstering Palestinian security and fostering cooperation with Israel-could oversee these contractors.
The USSC, established in 2021, already plays a crucial role in security coordination. https://www.state.gov/u-s-security-coordinator-for-israel-and-the-palestinian-authority/ Leveraging this existing structure could streamline command and control, and facilitate deconfliction with Israeli forces, potentially more efficiently than coordinating with multinational forces.
Challenges and Considerations
While pmcs offer potential advantages, their deployment also presents challenges. Concerns regarding accountability, adherence to international law, and potential for exacerbating existing tensions must be addressed. The legal framework governing the use of PMCs in conflict zones is complex and requires careful consideration.
The use of PMCs in conflict zones has been subject to scrutiny, particularly regarding incidents of alleged misconduct. https://www.hrw.org/topic/armed-conflict/private-military-companies robust oversight mechanisms and clear rules of engagement are essential to mitigate these risks.
Current Status (as of January 25,2026)
As of January 25,2026,there have been no official announcements regarding the deployment of private military contractors to Gaza for stabilization purposes. Discussions continue among policymakers and security experts, but no concrete plans have been implemented. The situation in Gaza remains fluid,with ongoing efforts focused on ceasefire negotiations and humanitarian aid delivery. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/ (Reuters middle East coverage, checked 2026/01/25 22:04:31)
