Morocco prepares to join international stabilization force in Gaza

10:25

By: Azzat Manal

Morocco prepares to join international stabilization force in Gaza

Morocco is reportedly preparing to participate in an international stabilization force that could be deployed in the Gaza Strip as part of arrangements for the next phase of a ceasefire agreement, according to statements attributed to the High Representative of the Peace Council, Nikolay Mladenov.

Mladenov said maintaining the commitments included in the agreed roadmap would be essential to preserving the ceasefire and preventing a return to large-scale fighting. He warned that any significant setback in implementing the plan could undermine efforts to stabilize the situation and have serious consequences for both Palestinians and Israelis.

According to the official, the roadmap remains the most viable framework currently available for addressing the future of Gaza. He stressed that the warnings issued by the Peace Council were directed at all parties and were intended to encourage compliance with the political, security and humanitarian commitments contained in the agreement.

The proposed roadmap includes several components aimed at managing the post-conflict transition in Gaza. These include reconstruction, security arrangements, Israeli withdrawal, disarmament, the deployment of an international stabilization force, the rebuilding of local policing structures and the establishment of new transitional administrative mechanisms.

Mladenov also said that the Peace Council had reached an agreement with Morocco regarding its participation in the planned international force. Preparations for the deployment have reportedly advanced, with discussions focusing on the force’s operational arrangements and potential positions across different parts of the Gaza Strip.

However, the proposed international deployment remains politically sensitive. Israel has expressed reservations about the idea, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently rejected reports suggesting that his government had approved the entry of an international stabilization force into Gaza.

Mladenov further indicated that Turkey would not participate in the proposed force, although discussions over the composition and mandate of the international contingent are continuing.

Beyond the security dimension, reconstruction is expected to be a central element of the post-war plan. The Peace Council has reportedly received financial pledges totaling around $7 billion to support reconstruction efforts in Gaza, where extensive damage has affected housing, infrastructure and civilian facilities.

Humanitarian assistance is another major priority. Mladenov said discussions were underway with Israel to increase the volume of aid entering Gaza, amid continuing concerns over living conditions for the territory’s population of more than two million people.

The proposed transitional arrangements would also involve a national committee tasked with administering Gaza during the interim period. Mladenov expressed hope that the committee would begin its work inside the territory as soon as possible.

Qatar and Egypt, along with Turkey, have also been credited with supporting negotiations involving Hamas and helping advance the ceasefire process. Their diplomatic efforts have played an important role in attempts to maintain communication between the parties and facilitate the implementation of subsequent measures.

Despite these diplomatic efforts, the ceasefire remains fragile. According to figures cited from Gaza’s health authorities, more than 1,300 Palestinians have reportedly been killed and over 4,300 injured since the ceasefire agreement came into effect in October 2025.

Since the outbreak of the war on October 7, 2023, the Palestinian death toll in Gaza has reached tens of thousands, while the number of injured has also risen dramatically. The scale of the destruction continues to make reconstruction, humanitarian relief and long-term political arrangements major challenges for the international community.

Morocco’s reported involvement in the proposed stabilization force would add a new dimension to its diplomatic engagement with the Gaza crisis. Any deployment, however, would depend on the final political and security framework, the agreement of the relevant parties and the practical arrangements governing the international force.