In a significant move for international cooperation, Morocco has commenced training up to 500 personnel for potential deployment with the International Stabilization Force (ISF) in Gaza. This development comes amidst ongoing preparations for the multinational force, despite notable delays in the implementation of the US-backed peace plan for the region. A representative from the Board of Peace shared this information with timesofisrael.com.
The training, which began in late August, started with a select group of officers and instructors before expanding to include a larger contingent. While the training was overseen by the US-led ISF, it remains unclear whether the process has been fully completed. Morocco is notable for being the first Arab nation to publicly commit to deploying police officers and military personnel to post-conflict Gaza, a pledge made in February. According to sources familiar with the Board of Peace’s plans, Morocco is expected to be the first among several nations, including Albania, Kazakhstan, and Kosovo, that have also expressed willingness to contribute troops.
In the meantime, the Board of Peace official indicated that there has been some progress regarding the establishment of a UAE-supported compound intended for displaced Palestinians in the Israeli-controlled section of Gaza. This aligns with recent statements made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who affirmed that Israel would only allow reconstruction efforts in Gaza once Hamas is disarmed and the territory demilitarized. However, Netanyahu acknowledged an exception for the UAE project, which was initially announced earlier this year. He stated, "The only thing we’ve agreed to [in Gaza] is an ‘Emirati bubble’ — they’re people who help us with many things,” adding that Israel has authorized specific infrastructure work for this initiative within its security zone.
Furthermore, the Board of Peace official noted that several initiatives continue to be stalled due to pending Israeli approvals, including the construction of a proposed ISF base near the Yellow Line, which is intended to house around 150 personnel. Despite having Israeli support in principle, various water, sewage, and sanitation projects have not progressed as expected, raising concerns about environmental and health risks, particularly the potential for contamination to spread into southern Israel.
As preparations continue, the Board of Peace remains in collaboration with Israeli officials while navigating the political pressures associated with upcoming elections. The official expressed hope that implementation efforts could gain momentum following the elections, emphasizing the need to transition from constructive discussions to actionable initiatives. They stated, "We need to move beyond constructive conversations to constructive implementation... We know that there’s limitations on what can be done by anybody given the election pressure, but that is why we are working hard to advance efforts on a lot of the more technical things.” They reassured that progress is being made, stating, "We’re still advancing the plan. We’re moving forward. But obviously, after the election, we’d hope to accelerate that at a much faster speed.”
