Uganda, Burundi discuss Gaza troop role in Trump-backed peace force

Telaviv,UPDATED: Aug 24, 2026 10:04 IST

Uganda and Burundi are in talks with Israel on sending troops to Gaza as part of an international security force proposed under US President Donald Trump's Board of Peace to support the fragile ceasefire, according to officials. A Board of Peace official said Ugandan officials joined a Burundian military delegation during a visit to Israel last week, with Uganda finalising details of its participation after parliament approved the troop contribution this month.

Nothing has been finalised with Burundi, but officials said the process could begin soon. A Board of Peace official, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss the talks publicly, said, 'We shared significant knowledge with one another, and the Burundi representatives expressed interest in our mission.'

A Burundian military official told The Associated Press that three other senior military officers led the delegation to Israel and that Burundi appeared intent on joining. The official also spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media. It was not clear what Uganda or Burundi might be offering or what they might receive in return. Spokespersons for their militaries did not respond to requests for comment.

If Burundi moves ahead, the two African countries would join Morocco, Kosovo, Kazakhstan and Albania in committing troops to the proposed force for Gaza. Uganda has committed around 1,200 personnel, while Morocco has committed up to 500. Kosovo, Kazakhstan and Albania together have committed around 80. Indonesia had earlier said it was preparing to send 8,000 troops, the largest commitment so far, but put that on hold after the US and Israel attacked Iran.

The 20,000-strong force is to be led by US Maj. Gen. Jasper Jeffers, but the number of troops committed so far remains well below the target. Last month, Trump announced a deal under which Hamas would disarm and Israel would withdraw its forces from Gaza. Under the plan, the Stabilisation Force would be deployed to parts of the Palestinian territory run by an incoming technocratic committee, while Israeli forces would pull back. The force would help monitor the ceasefire, train Palestinian police and secure the delivery of aid, among other tasks.

The ceasefire, which took effect in Gaza last October, has stalled over disagreements on Israel's withdrawal from the strip and Hamas' disarmament. Earlier this month, a US delegation held hours-long meetings with the Hamas leader and then with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an effort to move the process forward. Hamas has agreed to the new US deal. Netanyahu has rejected it, saying Israel will not withdraw from any of the roughly 60 per cent of the territory it controls in Gaza until Hamas has been completely disarmed. Even after Netanyahu's meeting with the US team, which included negotiator Jared Kushner, Israeli officials offered no concrete commitment.

Paul D. Williams, director of the security policy studies programme at The George Washington University, said Uganda and Burundi have extensive peacekeeping experience from long deployments in Somalia as part of an African Union force fighting the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab extremist group. He said their leaders have 'shown they are willing to tolerate high numbers of casualties without withdrawing'. Williams added that, with the Somalia mission winding down, both countries would be looking for ways to secure financial and material support for their militaries, and that 'deploying to Gaza with US support is one way to do that'.

A Ugandan military officer with knowledge of the planned deployment said troops were being selected to go to Gaza. The developments suggest that efforts to build the proposed international force are continuing, even as troop numbers remain short of the target and disagreements over the Gaza ceasefire persist.

With PTI Inputs

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