Kosovo and Albania have pledged to send troops to Gaza as part of a potential international stabilization force, following the first meeting of the Peace Board held in Washington. The development comes as the spokesperson of Hamas, Hazem Qassem, said the movement is open to international peacekeeping forces under specific conditions.
In a statement to Agence France-Presse, Qassem said that Hamas supports international peacekeepers whose role would be to monitor the ceasefire and ensure its implementation, while acting as neutral observers between Israeli forces and Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. However, he emphasized that such forces should not interfere in what he described as the internal affairs of Gaza.
The remarks followed the inaugural meeting of the Peace Board in Washington, an initiative announced by U.S. President Donald Trump. The mechanism is intended to coordinate international efforts for stabilization and reconstruction in Gaza after the war and the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.
During the meeting, members of the board committed billions of dollars for the reconstruction of Gaza, while some participating countries, including Kosovo and Albania, expressed readiness to contribute troops to a stabilization mission.
Trump was also announced as the chair of the Peace Board, meaning he is expected to retain influence over the organization even after leaving the presidency, according to the initiative’s framework.
