Morocco joins gaza stabilization force with military deployment plan

Rabat has formalized its commitment to the international stabilization force slated for deployment in the Gaza Strip, signing a binding agreement in the Moroccan capital on Wednesday. The ceremony, held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, brought together high-ranking officials including Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, defense leaders, and Nikolay Mladenov, the Gaza Peace Council’s envoy, alongside a military delegation led by the force’s commander.

According to Morocco’s Defense Administration, this pledge underscores the country’s resolve to bolster regional stability through tangible humanitarian and security contributions. The North African nation intends to dispatch senior officers, gendarmerie personnel, and police units, while also establishing a mobile military hospital in Gaza to support relief efforts.

While the agreement marks a formal step, it builds on Morocco’s earlier pledge in February to provide personnel to the force, making it the first Arab nation to publicly announce such involvement. Moroccan officers have already been integrated into the mission’s headquarters in southern Israel to advance preparatory measures.

Albania, Kazakhstan, and Kosovo have also pledged support to the initiative, but Morocco is poised to take the lead in actual troop deployment. Under the proposed framework, Moroccan forces will be tasked with securing the perimeter of a planned humanitarian zone in Rafah, southern Gaza, which will house temporary shelters and critical infrastructure under international protection.

The timeline for this deployment remains uncertain. Israel must finalize bilateral agreements with contributing nations to define the legal status of foreign troops in Gaza. Additionally, no start date has been set for the Rafah humanitarian zone, with construction potentially delayed until early 2027.

In the interim, small teams from participating countries continue preparations from a base in southern Israel. The stabilization force is designed to facilitate Gaza’s security transition, but its activation hinges on broader discussions regarding Hamas disarmament, the phased withdrawal of Israeli forces, and the establishment of a civilian administration.