WSJ: Azerbaijan and Indonesia insist on narrow mandate for any troops deployed to Gaza

According to The Wall Street Journal, no country has yet agreed to send troops to a planned international stabilization mission in Gaza, despite formal U.S. requests. The State Department this week contacted more than 70 nations, seeking military or financial contributions.

The report says several Middle Eastern states, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, are in talks with Washington about funding the initiative. While 19 countries have expressed interest in potential involvement or support, none have made firm commitments.

A key obstacle, WSJ notes, is concern that the mission's mandate could expand — potentially including disarmament operations against Hamas. Even Azerbaijan and Indonesia, described by U.S. officials as “closest to deploying troops,” insist that any contingent they provide must have strictly limited authority and no combat role.