Board of Peace official to ToI: Up to 500 Moroccan troops are trained for Gaza force

A Board of Peace official told The Times of Israel that up to 500 Moroccan personnel have trained for deployment with the International Stabilization Force in Gaza. The official noted modest progress on a UAE-backed compound for displaced Palestinians, while Netanyahu reiterated conditions for reconstruction. Several initiatives remain delayed by outstanding Israeli approvals.

A Board of Peace official told The Times of Israel that up to 500 Moroccan personnel have undergone training for deployment with the International Stabilization Force (ISF) in Gaza. The training took place in Morocco, beginning around late August, and was conducted by the US-led ISF. Morocco committed in February to deploy police officers and military personnel to postwar Gaza, becoming the first Arab country to do so publicly. Albania, Kazakhstan, and Kosovo have also agreed to contribute troops, with Morocco slated to be the first to deploy. The official also reported modest progress on a proposed UAE-backed compound for displaced Palestinians in the Israeli-controlled portion of Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated that Israel would not permit Gaza's reconstruction until Hamas is disarmed and the territory demilitarized, while acknowledging an exception for the Emirati project. Channel 13 news reported, citing senior Israeli officials, that Netanyahu promised the Trump administration he would allow partial reconstruction to begin in certain Israeli-held parts of the Strip even before Hamas disarms; Netanyahu's office dismissed the report as 'fake news.' Several initiatives remain delayed by outstanding Israeli approvals, including a proposed ISF base near the Yellow Line and water, sewage, and sanitation projects. The Board hopes implementation can accelerate after the October 27 election. The article notes that over 2 million Palestinians remain displaced over three years after the war began with the October 7, 2023 attack.