Rabat has formalized its commitment to contribute troops to an international stabilization force destined for the Gaza Strip. The agreement, signed in the Moroccan capital, was attended by high-ranking officials including Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, senior defense representatives, and Nikolaï Mladenov, the Gaza Peace Council envoy, alongside a delegation led by the force’s commander.
The Moroccan defense administration emphasized that this engagement reflects a shared determination to foster peace and stability in the region through tangible humanitarian and security measures. The North African kingdom plans to deploy senior officers, gendarmerie members, and police personnel, while also setting up a field military hospital in Gaza.
While this agreement marks a formal step, Morocco had already pledged in February to provide personnel to the international force, becoming the first Arab nation to publicly announce such a contribution. Moroccan officers have since joined the force’s headquarters in southern Israel to participate in preparatory operations.
The agreement includes contributions from Albania, Kazakhstan, and Kosovo, but Morocco may be the first to actually deploy forces in the enclave. Under the plan drafted by the Gaza Peace Council, Moroccan troops would be tasked with securing the boundaries of a proposed humanitarian zone near Rafah in southern Gaza. This area is intended to house temporary shelters and aid infrastructure under the protection of the international force.
Implementation appears to be some time away, as Israel must still finalize legal status agreements with each contributing country regarding the presence of foreign troops in Gaza. Additionally, no timeline has been set for the construction of the Rafah humanitarian zone, which may not begin until early 2027.
In the meantime, small delegations from participating countries continue preparations from a base in southern Israel. The future force aims to support Gaza’s security transition, but its establishment remains dependent on discussions surrounding Hamas disarmament, the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces, and the organization of civilian administration in the territory.
