Bangladesh Signals Willingness to Join International Stabilization Force in Gaza

Bangladesh has formally expressed its interest in joining a proposed international stabilization force that may be deployed in Gaza, signaling a potential new role in global peacekeeping efforts related to the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict. According to a government statement released on Saturday, Bangladesh’s National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman conveyed the country’s position during a meeting with senior U.S. diplomats Allison Hooker and Paul Kapur in Washington.

The statement noted that Rahman “expressed Bangladesh’s interest in principle” to participate in the international stabilization force envisioned for Gaza, although it did not specify the scale, nature, or timeline of Bangladesh’s potential involvement. The U.S. State Department did not immediately comment on the discussions.

The proposed force stems from a United Nations Security Council resolution adopted in mid-November, which authorized the establishment of a temporary International Stabilization Force in Gaza. The resolution called for the involvement of a so-called Board of Peace and contributing countries to help maintain stability following a ceasefire that began in October. However, the ceasefire has struggled to move beyond its initial phase, with negotiations on subsequent steps largely stalled.

Since the truce took effect, reports indicate that more than 400 Palestinians and three Israeli soldiers have been killed, underscoring the fragility of the situation. Nearly all of Gaza’s more than two million residents remain displaced, living in makeshift shelters or damaged buildings within a narrow area where Israeli forces have withdrawn and Hamas has reasserted control.

Both Israel and Hamas continue to accuse each other of violating the ceasefire, and positions remain sharply divided on key issues required to advance the next phase of the agreement. Israel’s military campaign in Gaza since late 2023 has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths, widespread destruction, and a severe humanitarian crisis. Multiple human rights experts, legal scholars, and a United Nations inquiry have described the situation as amounting to genocide, a claim Israel strongly rejects, maintaining that its actions constitute self-defense following a 2023 Hamas attack that killed 1,200 people and saw more than 250 taken hostage.

Bangladesh’s potential participation highlights growing international efforts to stabilize Gaza amid continued violence and diplomatic deadlock, as the global community searches for mechanisms to enforce peace and address the deepening humanitarian emergency.