Peace Council Plans Moroccan Military Base Near Israel in Gaza Strip

The Peace Council, designated to oversee Gaza, is set to approve its first project in the territory: a military outpost for 150 Moroccan soldiers. According to a British report, this outpost will serve as the initial phase of a larger base intended to house up to 5,000 troops, though the origins of the additional forces were not specified. The base will be located within the Israeli-controlled "yellow line," approximately 1.5 kilometers from Israeli territory.

The contract for constructing the outpost, which has not yet been finalized, was awarded to Arkel International, a Louisiana-based company with prior experience working for the U.S. government in Iraq. The outpost will cover an area of 100 by 120 meters and will accommodate Moroccan soldiers rotating from a base in Israel. It will include a rapid evacuation route in case of attack.

Earlier plans revealed in the UK described the full base as including armored fighting vehicle positions, a surrounding earth embankment, and basic facilities suitable for short-term deployments. The initial phase will feature tents, beds, chemical toilets, and handwashing stations considered adequate for living quarters.

This announcement comes just days after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Peace Council President Nikolay Mladenov, describing the meeting as positive. The Council stated both sides agreed on the full disarmament of Gaza and transition to civilian governance. It emphasized that the Israeli Defense Forces would withdraw from the yellow line only after complete demilitarization, though the deployment of hundreds of Moroccan troops near Israeli forces was not mentioned in the statement.