The United States has asked Italy to join the International Stabilization Force for Gaza as a founding member, according to Bloomberg, with the offer delivered to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s office and the Foreign Ministry in Rome and Washington this week.
The proposal would not require Italian troops, Bloomberg reported, but would count on Italy’s earlier pledge to train Gaza’s future police and leverage its political ties with Arab states, Israel, and the Palestinians.
The move comes as the Trump administration seeks to bolster the credibility of its Gaza initiative after delays and difficulties in securing troop contributions, Bloomberg said.
Meloni’s office declined to comment, and the Foreign Ministry did not respond, Bloomberg reported. White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers declined to confirm the invitation, saying only that “announcements on the ISF will come soon.”
A US official told Bloomberg that several countries were interested in participating in US President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace efforts and that Washington was in talks with partners. Under the proposal outlined to Italy, Rome’s main role would center on training and political support rather than deployment.
The ISF is a key component of the US-led framework for Gaza’s stabilization and has been the focus of international outreach in recent weeks, including an effort to secure troop pledges at a CENTCOM-hosted meeting in Doha.
Bloomberg reported that the administration has struggled to find countries willing to contribute troops. Some nations have signaled political or non-military participation, including Bangladesh, which recently expressed interest in joining the stabilization force.
Italy invited to join Board of Peace
Meloni said on Friday that she had asked Trump to amend the terms of his Board of Peace to resolve constitutional issues that have prevented Italy from joining it.
The Board of Peace is a new US-led international body created to oversee post-war governance in Gaza and potentially broader conflict-resolution efforts.
Under Italy's constitution, the country can only join international organizations on equal terms with other states - a condition that Meloni says is not met by the board's current statute, which gives Trump extensive executive powers.
Board of Peace controversy and timeline
Bloomberg added that Trump’s Board of Peace has been mired in controversy over leadership and funding requirements, with some G7 allies shunning a signing ceremony.
The initiative relates to Trump’s 20-point plan for Gaza, which has advanced in stages but remains contested by Israel and Hamas over core elements.
According to its charter, the Board will undertake "peace-building functions in accordance with international law."
What’s next
According to Bloomberg, the decision on whether to join the ISF now rests with Meloni, who has tried to balance support for Washington with domestic and European considerations.
The Gaza death toll stands in the tens of thousands, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians, underscoring the stakes for any stabilization mission.
Jerusalem Post Staff and Reuters contributed to this report.