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Monday, August 24, 2026
Burundi poised to join nascent Gaza peacekeeping mission — officials
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Burundi may move forward with a proposal to deploy troops to Gaza, officials say, after a military delegation from the African nation visited Israel last week to discuss joining the Board of Peace mission.
Nothing has been finalized with Burundi, but a Board of Peace official says they look forward to starting the process.
“We shared significant knowledge with one another, and the Burundi representatives expressed interest in our mission,” the official says, speaking on condition of anonymity.
A Burundian military official tells the AP that three other senior military officers led the delegation to Israel and that Burundi appears intent on joining.
The Board of Peace official says Uganda, which also sent officials to Gaza as part of the Burundian delegation, is finalizing details of its participation after its parliament approved the troop contribution this month.
If Burundi moves ahead, the African nations would be the latest to join the International Stabilization Force for Gaza after Morocco, Kosovo, Kazakhstan and Albania made commitments. Uganda has committed around 1,200 personnel, and Morocco has committed up to 500. Kosovo, Kazakhstan and Albania in total have committed around 80.
Last month, US President Trump announced a deal for Hamas to disarm and for Israel to withdraw its forces from Gaza. According to the deal, which was rejected by Israel, the International Stabilization Force would be deployed to areas of the Palestinian territory administered by an incoming technocratic committee, and Israeli forces would withdraw.
The force would help monitor the ceasefire, train Palestinian police and secure the delivery of aid, among other tasks.
The Times of Israel Community.