Smotrich, Strook demand Netanyahu halt international force entry after surprise base visit

Surprise Inspection at Kerem Shalom

Settlement Minister Orit Strook conducted an unannounced visit on Friday to the site of the International Stabilization Force (ISF) base currently under construction near the Kerem Shalom crossing. According to the ministers' letter, the inspection revealed "intensive efforts" to prepare for a force significantly larger than what was authorized by the security cabinet. The ministers claim the site is being outfitted to accommodate approximately 5,000 foreign personnel, a figure they argue represents a fundamental shift in the force's mission and scale.

Demands for Cabinet Intervention

In their urgent appeal to the Prime Minister, Smotrich and Strook called for a corrective cabinet decision to be reached as early as Monday. They argue that Israel must prevent the entry of any multinational force until Hamas is fully disarmed and the Gaza Strip is completely demilitarized. "We must not reach a situation where the multinational force, on such a massive scale, is ready and waiting to enter Gaza, and immense pressure will be applied to Israel to allow its entry even though demilitarization has not yet been carried out," the ministers warned.

Context of the International Force

The ISF was designated as a multinational body intended to assist in stabilizing Gaza. While the security cabinet had previously approved the force's deployment in principle, a political source noted in July that each specific entry would require the Prime Minister's personal approval. The current friction highlights a growing divide within the coalition regarding the timing of international involvement. Smotrich and Strook maintain that allowing foreign boots on the ground before the total dismantling of Hamas's military capabilities would undermine Israel's security objectives and long-term control over the demilitarization process.