Media: Moroccan military officers tour Gaza ahead of possible force deployment

Around 30 Moroccan military officers entered the Gaza Strip on July 22 in what was described as the first field visit by Moroccan forces to areas where they could potentially operate as part of a proposed multinational force.

The visit was reportedly part of preparations for the possible deployment of Moroccan troops to Gaza under a plan initiated by US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, Moroccan media reports.

Training for the force was initially expected to take place in Jordan but was later moved to Morocco following the US-Iran conflict and Iranian attacks on US military bases in the region.

Israeli broadcaster Kan, citing unnamed Israeli officials, reported that Morocco had taken the mission seriously and had sent officers to the multinational force’s headquarters and to Israel. The officials reportedly described Morocco as the most significant military preparing to participate in a possible post-war mission in Gaza.

Kan also reported that a potential base for the multinational force inside Gaza had already been planned and could be built at any time, although Israel has not yet granted final approval.

Israel has delayed advancing post-war plans for Gaza until Hamas agrees to disarm. The Israeli government has not agreed to the deployment of international forces in the enclave, citing Hamas’ failure to disarm its paramilitary units.

No official comments on the reported visit have been issued by the Board of Peace or Morocco, according to the Maghreb Times.

The visit was also reportedly linked to identifying a possible location for training forces tasked with stabilising the situation in Gaza. The training had previously been expected to take place in Jordan but was moved to Morocco amid regional tensions and repeated Iranian attacks on military bases in Jordan.

On July 15, Morocco and the Board of Peace signed an agreement on the participation of certain Moroccan units in an international stabilisation force in Gaza.

On January 22, representatives of 19 countries signed the Board of Peace Charter on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos. Washington later announced that additional countries had joined the organisation.

By Sabina Mammadli