Bangladesh says it has told the United States that it wants to join the International Stabilization Force (ISF) set to be deployed in Gaza under US President Donald Trump’s plan for the Strip.
Bangladesh says its national security adviser, Khalilur Rahman, met US diplomats Allison Hooker and Paul Kapur in Washington.
Rahman “expressed Bangladesh’s interest in principle to be part of the international stabilization force that would be deployed in Gaza,” a Bangladeshi government statement adds. It does not mention the extent or nature of its proposed involvement. The State Department has no immediate comment.
A UN Security Council resolution, adopted in mid-November, authorized a so-called Board of Peace and countries working with it to establish a temporary International Stabilization Force in Gaza where a ceasefire began in October.
Only a few countries have since voiced public interest in joining the ISF.
A US official, speaking to The Times of Israel, has downplayed the apparent ISF recruitment woes, insisting that countries would agree to contribute troops once they realize that they will not be expected to send their soldiers into battle against Hamas, as the mandate will be more modest than Washington and Jerusalem initially envisioned.
Jacob Magid contributed to this report.