Kosovo Joins US-described International Stabilization Force for Gaza Peacekeeping

What happened

Al Jazeera reports that Kosovo has formally signed an agreement to join the International Stabilization Force (ISF) in Gaza, a United Nations-mandated peacekeeping mission. The agreement was signed by Kosovo Security Force Commander Lieutenant-General Bashkim Jashari and US ISF Commander Major-General Jasper Jeffers, according to the United States-backed Board of Peace.

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure, battlefield claim or single-source assertion should be treated as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source or a named official. This development adds Kosovo to a select group of countries contributing to the planned force, which also includes Indonesia, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Albania, and Uganda. Turkiye was excluded after Israel vetoed its involvement. The ISF is part of a broader US and Israeli 20-point peace plan introduced a year ago to end the Gaza conflict and includes managing demilitarization and training a Palestinian police force.

However, deployment of the ISF has faced significant delays, primarily due to disputes over the timing of Israeli troop withdrawal and Hamas disarmament. Nikolay Mladenov, the Board of Peace's high representative, highlighted ongoing talks with Israel about implementing its commitments under the Gaza peace roadmap, noting that these have not yet been fulfilled. He stated that meaningful changes to the lives of people in Gaza depend on Israel’s adherence to its part of the agreements.

Known from the source

• Kosovo signed a Participating Country Agreement to join the International Stabilization Force (ISF) in Gaza.
• The ISF is a UN-mandated force supported by the US as part of a US-Israel peace plan introduced a year ago.
• Confirmed troop contributors include Kosovo, Indonesia, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Albania, and Uganda; Turkiye was vetoed by Israel.
• Israel approved legal measures in July to allow ISF entry and coordinated operations with the Israeli military.
• Deployment is delayed due to disagreements over Israeli withdrawal timing and Hamas disarmament.

What remains unclear

The Israeli government approved legal measures in July to permit ISF entry, with the force expected to operate in coordination with the Israeli military. Mladenov also indicated that deployment locations and mechanisms for the ISF have been established, with advance elements expected to arrive soon. The Trump administration has pledged over $206 million to support the ISF, including funding for equipment and operations.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. Current status of ISF deployment and arrival of advance elements in Gaza. Degree of Israel’s implementation of commitments under the Gaza peace roadmap. Exact roles and limitations of ISF coordination with the Israeli military on the ground.

Evidence note

Outside Brief has kept this brief source-led and attributed. Claims should be read alongside the original source linked below.

Original source: Al Jazeera Gaza. Open the source.