On July 16, the US-backed Board of Peace said that Morocco had “formally signed its Participating Country Agreement with the International Stabilization Force (ISF).”
This was a long-expected development that is key to helping the Board continue to move forward in Gaza.
In Gaza, Hamas continues to control an area of the enclave, estimated at around 30-40% of the area. Around two million civilians are still trapped under Hamas. Morocco’s commitment is also important because it comes after the ISF announced new members from the Kosovo Security Force on July 12.
In order for Gaza’s civilians to have a chance of escaping Hamas rule, they will need both reconstruction and security. To secure areas they might one day move to or live in, there needs to be an alternative Palestinian government to Hamas and also an international force.
The US plan to end the war in Gaza was able to secure a ceasefire in October 2025. The Trump administration has worked hard to make the peace plan come to fruition. However, there are many hurdles.
One hurdle is that the administration also has to help manage other issues relating to Israel. For instance, the US is also working on Israel-Lebanon talks and is trying to work with Syria and restrain Israel from a belligerent policy toward Syria.
US creating new ties in Middle East
US President Donald Trump has recently spotlighted the fact that Israel operates in Syria beyond the 1974 ceasefire line. The US is also continuing to fight Iran.
As such, the White House has many issues on its plate. Helping Israel get out of wars on several borders and helping bring peace to people in Lebanon, Gaza, Syria, and the region is hard work.
The Board of Peace is one part of this effort. Via the BoP, Gaza is supposed to be stabilized. To stabilize it requires an International Stabilization Force.
Around five countries were expected to join the force after the US plan got UN backing and after the BoP was inaugurated in January.
The Moroccan contingent is one of several that are expected to join. "Moroccan forces will support humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza and help train the Palestinian Police Force. The Board of Peace and the ISF thank His Majesty King Mohammed VI for Morocco’s unwavering dedication to regional stability, security, and for leading with action to support the people of Gaza,” the BoP said on July 16.
Morocco joins Abraham Accords after UAE, Bahrain
Morocco is important because it is a member of the Abraham Accords. It joined after the UAE and Bahrain agreed to the original accords in 2020. Kosovo also joined in 2021, and Kazakhstan joined in 2025.
As Accords members, Kosovo and Morocco are expected to play an important role. Kazakhstan and Albania may also participate. Albania and Kosovo have already sent a team to examine their potential deployment.
On July 12, the ISF also said it “welcomes the newest members of the Kosovo Security Force to the team. They will support the Gaza security effort in areas such as logistics and civil affairs.”
In addition, Dubravka Suica, the EU commissioner for the Mediterranean and Demography and a former mayor of Dubrovnik, recently met in Brussels with Aryeh Lightstone, a representative of the Board of Peace.
On July 14, Suica welcomed Lightstone’s participation in the second meeting of the EU Palestine Donor Group, and wrote: “I welcome his participation in today’s second meeting of our EU Palestine Donor Group. By working together, we can advance Gaza’s early recovery and help turn the Gaza Peace Plan into tangible progress on the ground.”
“This is our shared goal and our common commitment, in coordination with the Board of Peace and all our partners,” she noted.
Suica also met with Nickolay Mladenov, the High Representative of the BoP for Gaza and former UN special coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process.
After the meeting, Suica posted about “Gaza’s transitional structures” and the importance of delivering “tangible improvements for the Palestinian people.”
She wrote that “we demonstrated the international community’s unwavering commitment. Now the next step is clear: we need access, Hamas disarmament, security, and a clear governance framework to turn that commitment into action.”
Meanwhile, Mladenov spotlighted King Mohammed VI of Morocco “for his visionary leadership and the Kingdom of Morocco for its meaningful contribution to the International Stabilization Force in Gaza.”
He wrote that “through security support, humanitarian assistance, and the deployment of a field hospital, Morocco is, once again, translating its longstanding commitment to the Palestinian people into concrete action.
“An important contribution to peace, stability, and hope for Gaza and the realization of UNSCR (United Nations Security Council Resolution) 2803 and President Donald Trump’s Comprehensive Peace Plan.”
It is clear that Morocco’s move toward greater work with the Board and Gaza is a key part of what comes next. Morocco is a friend of the US and of Israel.
The Chargé d’Affaires of Kosovo to the State of Israel, Ines Demiri, has also been key to supporting Kosovo’s work with the Board. In June, she met with Kosovo officers Maj. Gentrit Idrizi and Maj. Labinot Lala.
“I visited their base to learn more about their important work. Their service and dedication reflect Kosovo’s steadfast commitment to supporting international peace, security, and stabilization efforts,” she noted.
She also visited the Life Support Area Endurance base located near the Gaza border, “which will serve as a vital waypoint for the ISF to refit while supporting restoration and humanitarian efforts,” the BoP noted.
All of the components of the next phase are slowly coming into view: the logistical support for the ISF, the ISF teams, the countries involved, and the donor countries.
The IDF also continues to strike Hamas terrorists. In addition, the Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) in Kiryat Gat, set up with US Central Command in October 2025, continues to operate.
Along with the IDF and various other countries and NGOs, it has helped facilitate humanitarian assistance in Gaza.