The arrival of the Moroccan personnel was confirmed on Tuesday by the Board of Peace established under U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration. A source familiar with the deployment said the officers reached the ISF headquarters in southern Israel on June 18 and would assist in developing the force’s organizational structure while providing expertise in policing and security operations.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that four Moroccan officers were part of the contingent but did not disclose whether additional personnel had also been deployed.

Morocco announced in February that it would contribute police and military personnel to the planned force, becoming the first Arab state to publicly commit troops to the initiative.

The deployment forms part of the second phase of a Gaza framework announced by Washington in January and later endorsed by the United Nations Security Council. The plan aims to transition the Gaza Strip from active conflict toward a longer-term security and governance arrangement following the war triggered by Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.

Under the framework, Israel would gradually withdraw forces from parts of Gaza, Hamas would be disarmed, and an international stabilization mission would be deployed to support security and reconstruction efforts.

Despite diplomatic backing, implementation has progressed slowly. While the ceasefire that entered into force in October has largely prevented a return to full-scale warfare, negotiations over a permanent settlement remain stalled.

The proposed stabilization force has been discussed repeatedly by international mediators but has yet to become operational inside Gaza.

Hamas stated in February that it could accept the presence of an international force provided it did not interfere in the territory’s internal affairs. The group has governed Gaza since seizing control of the enclave in 2007.

Israeli officials say their forces currently maintain control over approximately 70 percent of the Gaza Strip, up from slightly more than half immediately after the initial troop redeployments conducted under the ceasefire arrangements.

The truce has remained fragile, with both Israel and Hamas regularly accusing each other of violations while international mediators continue efforts to secure a broader political agreement.

According to Gaza’s health ministry, more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire took effect. The United Nations has previously cited the ministry’s casualty data as generally reliable for monitoring conflict-related fatalities.

The Israeli military has reported the deaths of five soldiers during the same period.

The arrival of Moroccan personnel represents a tangible step toward establishing the multinational security mission envisioned under the ceasefire framework, even as political and security obstacles continue to delay its full deployment inside Gaza.

Two Hamas officials said the delegation would press for an end to what it described as Israeli breaches and call for implementation of remaining provisions of the first phase of the agreement, which took effect in October and largely halted a two-year conflict in the enclave.

The group is expected to demand that Israel dismantle its military positions in Gaza, fully reopen border crossings, increase the movement of people, and allow greater volumes of humanitarian aid into the territory.

Hamas will also raise proposals for a U.S.-backed administrative body of Palestinian technocrats to assume governance responsibilities in Gaza, according to officials familiar with the discussions.

A second Hamas official said the delegation would meet other Palestinian factions in Cairo alongside Egyptian intermediaries to coordinate positions.

The ceasefire, brokered with support from Donald Trump, entered a second phase earlier this year, which includes provisions for Hamas disarmament, a gradual Israeli military withdrawal, and the deployment of a proposed 20,000-strong International Stabilization Force.

Hamas has indicated it may be willing to relinquish part of its arsenal, but only within the framework of a broader Palestinian political process.Despite the truce, violence has persisted.

Gaza’s civil defense agency reported that Israeli airstrikes killed seven people in a northern district on Saturday, while the Israeli military said it had targeted an armed militant cell near the so-called Yellow Line separating zones of control.

According to Gaza’s health ministry, at least 749 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire began, while the Israeli military has reported five soldiers killed in the same period.

The figures have not been independently verified due to restricted access to the territory.Both Israel and Hamas have repeatedly accused each other of breaching the ceasefire, raising concerns about its durability as negotiations continue.