The Moroccan government has officially signed an agreement in Rabat to contribute troops to the planned International Stabilisation Force for deployment in the Gaza Strip. The signing ceremony took place in the presence of Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, senior defence officials, and Nikolaï Mladenov, the Gaza Peace Council representative, alongside a high-level delegation including the force commander.
According to Moroccan Defence authorities, this commitment underscores a shared determination to foster stability in the region through tangible humanitarian and security measures. Rabat’s contribution will include senior officers, gendarmerie personnel, police units, and the establishment of a mobile military hospital in Gaza.
Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Kosovo have also pledged support to the initiative, but Morocco is expected to be the first nation to actually deploy forces on the ground. Under the current framework, Moroccan troops would be tasked with securing the boundaries of a planned humanitarian zone near Rafah in southern Gaza. This area is intended to provide temporary housing and critical infrastructure, shielded by the international force.
Deployment timelines remain uncertain. Israel must first finalise bilateral agreements with each contributing country to define the legal status of foreign troops in Gaza. Additionally, no concrete schedule has been set for the Rafah humanitarian zone construction, with groundwork potentially beginning no earlier than early 2027.
In the meantime, small delegations from participating nations are already coordinating from a base in southern Israel. While the force aims to support Gaza’s security transition, its deployment hinges on broader discussions regarding Hamas disarmament, the phased withdrawal of Israeli forces, and the establishment of civilian administration structures in the territory.
