Morocco joins international force for gaza stability mission

The Kingdom of Morocco formalized its participation in the international stabilization force slated for deployment in the Gaza Strip through a signed agreement in Rabat on Wednesday. The signing ceremony, held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was attended by Nasser Bourita, Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, senior defense officials, and Nikolai Mladenov, the Gaza Peace Council representative, alongside a delegation led by the force’s commander.

According to Moroccan defense authorities, this commitment underscores a shared determination to contribute tangible humanitarian and security measures aimed at fostering lasting peace and stability in the region. Morocco’s contribution will include the deployment of senior officers, gendarmerie personnel, and police units, as well as the establishment of a field military hospital in Gaza.

The agreement, while marking a formal step, largely consolidates a prior pledge made in February, when Morocco became the first Arab nation to publicly announce its involvement. Since then, Moroccan officers have already integrated the force’s headquarters in southern Israel to participate in preparatory operations.

Other nations, including Albania, Kazakhstan, and Kosovo, have also pledged support for the initiative, but Morocco is poised to be the first to deploy troops on the ground. Under the proposed framework, Moroccan forces will be tasked with securing the boundaries of a planned humanitarian zone near Rafah in southern Gaza—a designated area for temporary shelters and aid infrastructure, protected by the international contingent.

However, deployment remains pending several critical conditions. Israel must finalize bilateral agreements with each contributing nation to define the legal status of foreign troops in Gaza. Additionally, no concrete timeline has been set for the Rafah humanitarian zone, with construction potentially delayed until early 2027.

In the interim, small delegations from participating countries continue preparations from a base in southern Israel. The international force is designed to support Gaza’s security transition, but its activation hinges on ongoing negotiations concerning Hamas disarmament, the phased withdrawal of Israeli forces, and the establishment of a civilian administrative framework for the territory.