Morocco formalized its participation in a new international stabilization mission for Gaza during a ceremony in Rabat on Wednesday. The agreement, signed in the presence of Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and high-ranking defense officials, alongside Nikolaï Mladenov, the Gaza Peace Council representative, and a delegation including the force commander, underscores the Kingdom’s commitment to regional stability.
The Moroccan Defense Administration confirmed that Rabat will contribute senior officers, gendarmerie personnel, and police officers, alongside the establishment of a field military hospital in Gaza. While the signing formalizes an existing commitment made in February—when Morocco became the first Arab nation to publicly pledge troops—preparatory steps have already been taken. Moroccan officers are currently stationed at the force’s headquarters in southern Israel, working on operational planning.
The international force, which includes contributions from Albania, Kazakhstan, and Kosovo, is expected to prioritize Morocco’s deployment as the first operational contingent. According to the Gaza Peace Council’s framework, Moroccan troops will play a key role in securing a proposed humanitarian zone near Rafah in southern Gaza. This protected perimeter is designed to host temporary shelters and aid infrastructure as part of broader stabilization efforts.
However, deployment timelines remain uncertain. Israel must still finalize legal agreements with each contributing country regarding the status of foreign troops in Gaza. Additionally, no concrete timeline has been set for the Rafah humanitarian zone, with construction potentially not beginning until early 2027. In the meantime, smaller delegations from participating nations continue preparations from a base in southern Israel, as the force awaits progress on broader security transitions in Gaza, including Hamas disarmament negotiations, Israel Defense Forces withdrawal, and the establishment of a civilian administration.
