1. The Tensions in the Middle East and the Background of the Coalition Formation
1.1 The Current Situation of the Conflict in the Gaza Strip and the Humanitarian Crisis
The current conflict situation in the Gaza Strip is extremely severe. The confrontation between Israel and Hamas continues to escalate, with ongoing clashes between the two sides. The Israeli military has launched large-scale military operations in the Gaza Strip, combining airstrikes with ground offensives, while Hamas has responded with rockets and other weapons. In this conflict, the casualty figures are staggering, with a large number of innocent civilians losing their lives in the fighting, and countless others being injured.
The infrastructure was severely damaged, with hospitals, schools, and other public facilities becoming targets of attack, leading to the paralysis of medical and educational services. Water and power supply systems were devastated, leaving residents in the Gaza Strip facing shortages of both. Essential supplies such as food were extremely scarce, leaving many in a state of hunger, with malnutrition being particularly severe among children. A large number of people were forced to flee their homes, becoming displaced and living on the streets or in temporary shelters under harsh conditions, facing threats from disease and cold. Humanitarian aid was difficult to deliver to Gaza, and despite repeated calls for a ceasefire and humanitarian assistance from the international community, progress was hindered by the conflict, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
1.2 Reasons for the Formation of the Coalition Due to Escalation of the Gaza Conflict
The escalating conflict in Gaza has prompted Arab countries such as Egypt to form a coalition with U.S. support, driven by multiple factors.
The spillover effects of the conflict in the Gaza Strip are evident, with the fighting extending to neighboring countries and the regional situation remaining highly tense. Israel has engaged in clashes with groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, leading to a decline in Red Sea shipping capacity and disruptions to energy trade and supply chains, which have impacted international energy supplies.
The international community’s dissatisfaction with Israel’s military operations has rapidly intensified, with foreign ministers from 16 countries issuing an emergency statement demanding the protection of humanitarian aid convoys and urging Israel to immediately halt its military actions.
Under the influence of American hegemony, the use of force has become the preferred means to resolve conflicts. Israel’s military actions have triggered regional instability, while the United States seeks to safeguard its interests and influence in the Middle East.
Arabic countries such as Egypt, unwilling to see the Gaza conflict escalate further and cause greater damage to regional stability, have decided under U.S. support to take the lead in forming a coalition force. They aim to intervene in the Gaza situation through military and political means, curb conflict escalation, promote a ceasefire and humanitarian aid, and create conditions for peace in Gaza.
II. Composition, Mission, and Special Structure of the Arab Coalition Forces
2.1 Composition of the Allied Forces
The Arab Coalition Force involves participation from multiple Arab countries and the United States. Egypt, as the lead country, plays a pivotal role, leveraging its formidable military strength and regional influence to provide critical support to the coalition. Although Qatar has had conflicts with some Arab nations, it joined the coalition under the shared concern of the Gaza conflict, aiming to contribute to resolving regional issues. Turkey, with its unique geopolitical position and strong military capabilities, has become a force to be reckoned with in the coalition, driven by its own considerations in maintaining regional stability. The UAE, motivated by concerns over the regional situation and its close ties with the United States and other countries, actively participated in the formation of the coalition.
The United States’ involvement in the coalition primarily manifested at the military level. The addition of 200 elite U.S. soldiers brought advanced combat experience and tactical expertise to the coalition. The deployment of the THAAD missile defense system significantly enhanced the coalition’s air defense capabilities, bolstering its confidence in facing potential threats. The support of aircraft carrier strike groups further demonstrated the U.S. commitment to the coalition. These military assets not only strengthened the coalition’s overall strength but also reflected America’s resolve to safeguard its interests in the region.
2.2 The Primary Mission of the Coalition Forces
Ceasefire supervision is one of the key missions of the coalition forces. Against the backdrop of escalating conflict in the Gaza Strip, the coalition must closely monitor the movements of all parties involved—Israel and Palestinian factions—to ensure compliance with the agreed ceasefire agreement. Through on-the-ground patrols, surveillance, and other measures, any violations of the ceasefire are promptly detected and halted, fostering a relatively peaceful environment in the Gaza Strip and creating conditions for subsequent peace negotiations.
Hostage exchanges are also a critical mission undertaken by the coalition forces. During the conflict, both sides have personnel detained by the opposing party, and the coalition must actively mediate between them to facilitate exchanges in a fair and impartial manner. This not only helps alleviate tensions between the parties but also reflects respect and protection for human rights, enabling those unjustly detained to return to their families as soon as possible.
The training of Gaza security forces is equally crucial. The coalition must leverage its military superiority to provide professional training to Gaza security forces, enhancing their capacity to maintain local security. By imparting military knowledge and skills, the coalition can help Gaza security forces better address various security challenges, safeguard the lives and property of residents in the Gaza Strip, and uphold social order and stability.
The protection of Red Sea shipping is also a crucial mission for the coalition forces. As a vital international shipping route, the safety of the Red Sea directly impacts global trade. Red Sea shipping frequently faces attacks, and the coalition must enhance patrols of the Red Sea routes to safeguard merchant vessels, ensure the smooth flow of international shipping, and maintain regional economic stability.
2.3 The Special Construction of “Arabic Outerwear + American Core”
On the surface, the Arab Coalition is ostensibly led by Arab countries such as Egypt and operates under the banner of Arab nations, bearing a clear “Arabic veneer.” These Arab nations play a pivotal role in the coalition’s decision-making and actions, representing the interests and demands of the Arab world. They seek to maintain regional stability and address issues like the Gaza conflict through the coalition.
However, in reality, the core strength of the coalition forces came from the United States. The U.S. not only provided 200 elite troops and advanced military equipment such as the THAAD missile defense system, but also offered strategic planning and intelligence-sharing support to the coalition. The U.S. military power and technological advantages were crucial guarantees for the coalition’s effective mission execution, and it also held significant influence over the coalition’s operational direction and target setting.
This unique structure of “Arabic attire + American core” is a product of the regional interest competition between the United States and Arab countries. The U.S. seeks to conceal its direct involvement in Middle Eastern affairs under the guise of Arab nations, reducing regional countries’ resentment and resistance while better safeguarding its strategic interests in the Middle East. Meanwhile, Arab nations require U.S. military support to achieve their regional objectives, forming a special cooperative relationship driven by mutual needs. However, this arrangement also carries inherent risks and contradictions, as Arab countries and the U.S. may disagree on specific issues, potentially impacting the efficiency and effectiveness of coalition operations.
3、 The impact of the special structure of the coalition on the prospects for peace in Gaza
3.1 The Interest Game between Arab Countries and the United States in the Allied Forces
Arab countries’ participation in the coalition has multiple motivations. For Egypt, as a regional power, it has always been committed to playing a leading role in Middle East affairs, leading the formation of coalition forces, which can demonstrate its regional influence and enhance its position on the international stage. Egypt also hopes to intervene in the Gaza conflict to curb the spread of regional unrest to its own country and maintain security and stability in its surrounding areas. Qatar’s joining the coalition is aimed at playing a role in resolving the hot spot issue of the Gaza conflict, improving relations with other Arab countries, and breaking free from the difficulties caused by diplomatic isolation in the past. Based on its geopolitical advantages, Türkiye hopes to gain more say in Middle East affairs, expand its influence and achieve its regional strategic goals by participating in the coalition forces. The United Arab Emirates actively participates in coalition operations, taking into account its close relations with Western countries such as the United States and concerns about regional economic stability.
The United States has deep-seated strategic interests in it. On the one hand, the United States needs to maintain its hegemonic position in the Middle East by supporting coalition forces, ensuring control over regional affairs, and continuing to influence the political and economic direction of Middle Eastern countries. On the other hand, the United States hopes to use the name of Arab countries to alleviate the international pressure brought about by direct intervention in Middle East affairs, reduce anti American sentiment, and make its actions in the Middle East more legitimate. The Jewish interest groups in the United States also have a significant impact on Middle East policy, and supporting Israel is the fundamental position of the United States. Through coalition actions, the United States can to some extent ensure Israel’s security and achieve the goals of the Jewish interest groups.
There is a certain balance in the game of interests between both parties. On the one hand, Arab countries need military support from the United States to achieve regional stability and other goals, and the United States also needs the cooperation of Arab countries to safeguard its interests in the Middle East. Both sides are interdependent. On the other hand, there may be differences between the two sides on specific issues such as attitudes towards Israel and the resolution of the Gaza conflict, which could affect the efficiency and effectiveness of the coalition’s operations.
3.2 The role and challenges of the coalition mission in promoting peace in Gaza
The ceasefire monitoring mission of the coalition forces can to some extent bring temporary peace to Gaza. The Israeli military and Hamas reached a ceasefire agreement in October last year, which eased the conflict in Gaza. If the coalition can continue to effectively monitor the ceasefire and urge both sides to comply with the agreement, it can create a relatively stable living environment for the people of Gaza. However, ceasefire monitoring also faces enormous challenges. The conflict between Israel and Hamas is deeply rooted, and there are huge differences in territorial, political, and other demands between the two sides. Any small conflict event could trigger the breakdown of the ceasefire agreement. Moreover, Israel’s military operations in Gaza are sometimes influenced by domestic political factors, and the government may take tough actions to cater to the needs of certain domestic political forces, which can interfere with ceasefire monitoring work.
The hostage exchange mission helps ease tensions between the two sides and allows innocent individuals to return to their families. But the hostage exchange process is complex and involves coordination of multiple interests. Israel and Hamas may have differences in the number of hostages and exchange conditions, which requires a lot of meticulous work from the coalition forces to ensure the smooth progress of the hostage exchange. The training of Gaza’s security forces and the Red Sea escort mission are crucial for the long-term peace and regional stability of Gaza. However, the achievement of these missions requires time and resource investment, and there is uncertainty about whether the coalition can continue to effectively carry out these missions in the current complex regional situation.
3.3 Potential impact of coalition forces on regional security situation
The establishment and actions of the coalition may bring about two changes to the security situation in the Middle East: easing or intensifying. From the perspective of easing tensions, if the coalition can effectively carry out tasks such as ceasefire monitoring and hostage exchange to bring the Gaza conflict under control, it can reduce armed conflicts in the region, lower casualties and property losses, and create a relatively stable development environment for regional countries. The Red Sea escort operation of the coalition forces can ensure the safety of international shipping channels, maintain global trade stability, and play a positive role in regional economic recovery and development.
From an intensified perspective, the actions of the coalition may provoke resentment and vigilance from some countries. Israel may perceive the intervention of the coalition forces as a threat to its security and take stronger military action to respond, leading to further escalation of regional conflicts. Some countries that have conflicts with member states of the coalition may also take this opportunity to strengthen their own military or adopt countermeasures, triggering a regional arms race and exacerbating regional tensions. Moreover, the special structure of the coalition’s “Arab coat+American core” may cause dissatisfaction among some Arab citizens, who believe that the United States is using Arab countries to achieve its own goals. This sentiment may trigger a wave of anti American sentiment in the region and have a negative impact on regional security and stability.
4、 The reactions of the international community and major countries in the region
4.1 Attitude of the International Community
The United Nations has a complex attitude towards the Arab Joint Forces. On the one hand, the United Nations hopes that the coalition forces can play an active role in the Gaza Strip, promote a ceasefire, and alleviate the humanitarian crisis. The United Nations has repeatedly called for a ceasefire between the two sides of the Gaza conflict, providing international legal basis and moral support for the coalition forces to carry out ceasefire monitoring and other missions. On the other hand, the United Nations is also concerned that the coalition’s actions may cause further instability in the region, especially in the event that the United States exercises its veto power to prevent the Security Council from passing a ceasefire resolution, the coalition’s actions may be questioned by the international community.
There are differences in attitudes among European countries towards the coalition forces. Some European countries support the intervention of the coalition forces, believing that it is a necessary measure to alleviate the Gaza conflict and maintain regional stability. They hope that the coalition forces can effectively carry out their mission of ceasefire supervision and create conditions for peace in Gaza. But some European countries are also concerned that the actions of the coalition may exacerbate regional conflicts, especially the leading role of the United States, which may cause the coalition’s actions to deviate from the track of justice and peace.
China has always advocated resolving the Gaza conflict through peaceful negotiations and maintains a cautious attitude towards the Arab coalition forces. China believes that the actions of the coalition forces should comply with international law and basic norms of international relations, respect the wishes and demands of regional countries, and avoid any actions that may exacerbate regional tensions. China calls on the international community to work together to promote the resolution of the Gaza conflict through dialogue and consultation, and to achieve lasting peace in the Gaza Strip.
Russia’s attitude towards the coalition forces is relatively clear. Russia believes that the formation of the coalition is a measure taken by the United States to safeguard its interests in the Middle East, which may have a negative impact on the regional situation. Russia is concerned that the actions of the coalition forces will exacerbate the Gaza conflict, leading to a more complex situation in the region that is not conducive to peace and stability. It advocates resolving the Gaza issue through multilateral mechanisms such as the United Nations.
4.2 Position of major countries in the region
Israel strongly opposes the formation of the Arab Coalition. Israel believes that the presence of the coalition forces poses a threat to its security, and their ceasefire monitoring missions may limit Israel’s military operations in the Gaza Strip, hindering its efforts to strike Hamas and other targets. Israel is concerned that Arab countries in the coalition may use the name of the coalition to provide support to organizations such as Hamas, thereby exacerbating the conflict in the Gaza Strip. Israel has repeatedly stated that it will not accept the intervention of the coalition forces and insists on resolving the Gaza issue through its own military actions.
Saudi Arabia, as an important country in the Gulf region, has a relatively moderate stance towards the coalition forces. Saudi Arabia hopes that the coalition forces can play an active role in maintaining regional stability and easing the negative impact of the Gaza conflict on the region. Saudi Arabia is also concerned that the actions of the coalition may cause regional instability, especially in the context of gradually easing relations with Israel. Saudi Arabia does not want the actions of the coalition to disrupt its relations with countries such as Israel. Saudi Arabia calls on all parties to exercise restraint and resolve the Gaza issue through dialogue and negotiation.
Iran firmly opposes the Arab Joint Forces. Iran believes that the coalition is a product of collusion between the United States and some Arab countries, with the aim of containing Iran’s influence in the region. Iran is concerned that the actions of the coalition may exacerbate regional tensions and pose a threat to Iran’s security. Iran supports the Palestinian resistance movement and believes that the intervention of the coalition forces is an interference in the just cause of the Palestinian people. Iran has repeatedly stated that it will take necessary measures to respond to the actions of the coalition forces, safeguard its own interests, and maintain regional stability.
5、 The operational capability and challenges of the Arab Joint Forces
5.1 Assessment of the Joint Forces’ Operational Capability
The operational capability of the Arab Joint Forces has certain advantages and limitations. From the perspective of command and coordination mechanism, although the coalition command center established at the Qatar summit provides a platform for coordination in form, there are historical conflicts and differences of interest among Arab countries, such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia having had diplomatic crises, which may affect the smooth and efficient execution of command decisions. In terms of military equipment, the US military’s THAAD anti missile system and advanced equipment such as aircraft carrier battle groups have significantly enhanced the air defense and maritime combat capabilities of the coalition forces. However, they have also made the coalition forces overly dependent on US equipment. Once the US adjusts its support, the coalition forces’ strength will be greatly affected. In terms of personnel quality, the armies of Egypt and other countries have rich regional combat experience, and the elite soldiers of the US military bring advanced tactical concepts. However, the training systems and combat styles of different countries’ armies vary greatly, and integration and coordination require time for adaptation. The overall operational capability needs to be tested in actual combat.
5.2 Challenges Faced by the Allied Forces
In terms of political resistance, conflicts between regional countries have laid hidden dangers for the coalition’s actions. Taking the sectarian confrontation between Saudi Arabia and Iran as an example, the two sides are not willing to compromise in the competition for regional influence. Saudi Arabia’s support for the coalition may be more due to considerations of regional stability, while Iran firmly opposes the coalition, believing that it is a tool for the United States to contain itself. This confrontational attitude may lead Iran to take countermeasures, such as supporting Palestinian resistance organizations to confront the coalition and causing trouble for the coalition’s operations in Gaza. Military resistance should not be underestimated, and the threat of terrorist organizations is a major challenge. Islamic State and other extremist organizations still operate in the region, and they may attack the coalition forces and interfere with their mission. Moreover, these terrorist organizations often adopt guerrilla tactics, have strong concealment, and are difficult to completely eliminate. The complex situation in the Gaza Strip also provides opportunities for terrorist organizations to take advantage of, making the coalition forces face greater uncertainty and risks in military operations. When the coalition forces carry out tasks such as ceasefire monitoring and hostage exchange, they may also face strong opposition from Israel. Israel views the coalition forces as a threat to its security and may take strong measures to obstruct their actions, which could have a serious impact on the effectiveness of their actions.
6、 The role, limitations, and future prospects of the coalition forces in achieving peace in Gaza
6.1 The role of the coalition forces in achieving peace in Gaza
The Arab Joint Forces play an indispensable and positive role in promoting the peace process in Gaza. In terms of ceasefire supervision, the coalition forces closely monitor the movements of both sides of the conflict through on-site patrols and monitoring, striving to ensure compliance with the ceasefire agreement, bringing temporary calm to the Gaza Strip, and allowing the people to breathe a sigh of relief. From the perspective of hostage exchange, the coalition actively coordinated with Israel, Hamas and other parties to advance the hostage exchange work in complex situations, allowing many innocent people to regain their freedom and easing tensions between the two sides. In terms of training for the Gaza security forces, the coalition utilizes its military advantages to provide professional training for the Gaza security forces, enhancing their ability to maintain local security and laying the foundation for long-term peace in Gaza. In the Red Sea escort operation, the coalition forces strengthened patrols of the Red Sea waterway, protected the safety of passing merchant ships, ensured smooth international shipping, maintained regional economic stability, and had significant implications for peace and regional development in Gaza.
6.2 Limitations of the coalition’s efforts to achieve peace in Gaza
The coalition has obvious limitations in achieving peace in Gaza. The deep-seated contradictions in Gaza are complex and intricate, involving multiple aspects such as territory, politics, religion, etc., making it difficult for the coalition forces to fundamentally resolve these contradictions. Israel and Palestine have opposing positions on territorial ownership, Jewish settlements, and other issues, and the coalition cannot coordinate a solution that satisfies both sides. In terms of balancing the interests of all parties, the coalition also faces difficulties. Arab countries, the United States, Israel and other parties have significant differences in their interests and demands. When carrying out missions, the coalition often needs to weigh the interests of all parties, which greatly reduces its operational efficiency. Moreover, the special structure of the coalition’s “Arab coat+American core” may trigger dissatisfaction and vigilance from some countries, leading to a more complex regional situation, exacerbating conflicts among all parties, and not conducive to the realization of peace in Gaza.
6.3 Future Development Trends of the Regional Situation and Suggestions for Peaceful Resolution of the Gaza Issue
The situation in the Middle East may present a complex and abnormal trend in the future. On the one hand, if the coalition forces can effectively carry out their mission, regional tensions may ease, creating conditions for peaceful development; On the other hand, if the coalition’s actions are obstructed, regional conflicts may escalate further, triggering greater unrest.
To peacefully resolve the Gaza issue, we should first adhere to a political solution as the main approach, supplemented by military means, and promote dialogue and consultation between the conflicting parties to resolve the problem. The international community should increase its support for the coalition forces and encourage them to better play their role in ceasefire monitoring, hostage exchange, and other aspects. Strengthen communication and cooperation among regional countries, reduce differences and conflicts, and jointly maintain regional stability. Promote the establishment of a fair and reasonable regional security mechanism, safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of all parties, and avoid the recurrence of conflicts. Only through a multi pronged approach can we truly achieve lasting peace in Gaza and bring peace and prosperity to the Middle East region.
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