Kosovo formalizes its inclusion in the International Stabilization Force for Gaza

Kosovo signed an agreement on Monday that formalizes its participation in the International Stabilization Force (ISF) in Gaza, according to an announcement published on social media by the Peace Board, which is supported by the United States.

According to the announcement, representatives of the Republic of Kosovo, the Peace Board, and the International Stabilization Force signed the Agreement for Participating States, through which Kosovo is included in the ISF.

The document was signed by the commander of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF), Lieutenant General Bashkim Jashari, and the American commander of the ISF, Major General Jasper Jeffers.

The Peace Board described the agreement as an important step that demonstrates Kosovo’s commitment to the ISF mission and its continued support for President Donald Trump’s 20-point Peace Plan.

Kosovo was one of the first states to express readiness to contribute troops to this mission. At the beginning of the year, the Assembly approved the deployment of KSF members, while authorization was given by the acting president, Albulena Haxhiu.

In April, a KSF team traveled to the Gaza Strip to assess the area where Kosovar troops are expected to be deployed as part of the international force in the Palestinian territory.

So far, five countries have undertaken to send troops to the ISF: Kosovo, Albania, Indonesia, Morocco, and Kazakhstan. Meanwhile, Egypt and Jordan have declared that they will contribute to police training.

The ISF is part of President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan, which aims to end Israel’s war in Gaza.

Trump created the Peace Board to oversee this plan, to end the war, and to rebuild the destroyed territory.

The plan envisions peacekeeping forces being deployed in Gaza after the withdrawal of Israeli forces, with the task of guaranteeing security in those areas, training new Palestinian police forces, and assisting in the distribution of aid.

After two years of war, most of Gaza remains destroyed. The conflict began after Hamas-led attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023. Hamas has been designated a terrorist organization by the US and the EU.

However, efforts to deploy international troops have remained suspended since the announcement of an agreement at the end of July. Israel and Hamas have not accepted to fulfill the conditions necessary for its implementation.

Trump’s envoy and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, held separate meetings with Hamas officials and Israeli leaders in August. He left without achieving progress, as both sides did not move from their key demands.

For this reason, it is still unknown when the troops of the international mission may be deployed in Gaza.

The ceasefire plan has brought a reduction in violence in Gaza, but it has not completely stopped Israeli attacks and has not led to the disarmament of militants.

According to Gaza health officials and the Israeli army, more than 1,200 Palestinians and four Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire was established in October. / REL