Ugandan and Burundian military delegations meet Israel to discuss Gaza peacekeeping roles

Military representatives from Uganda and Burundi arrived in Israel last week to negotiate their participation in an international stabilization force slated for Gaza. The talks, organized by the Board of Peace, aim to integrate African troops into a U.S.-led contingent that would oversee the cease-fire, train local police and facilitate aid delivery. Uganda’s parliament recently authorized a contribution of roughly 1,200 personnel, and the country is polishing the details of its deployment.

Burundi’s delegation, led by three senior officers, signaled interest but has not yet reached a binding agreement. If they join, the two nations would follow Morocco, Kosovo, Kazakhstan and Albania, which have already pledged forces, though the overall size of the force remains far below the 20,000-troop target set by U.S. Major General Jasper Jeffers. The initiative follows a U.S. proposal for Hamas disarmament and Israeli withdrawal that has yet to be accepted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.