Bangladesh has formally expressed its intention to participate in the proposed international stabilization force for Gaza during high-level diplomatic discussions in Washington. The development emerged from meetings between Bangladeshi National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman and U.S. diplomats Allison Hooker and Paul Kapur on Saturday.
According to an official government statement, Rahman conveyed Bangladesh’s ‘interest in principle’ to contribute to the multinational peacekeeping initiative, though specific details regarding troop numbers or operational capacity remain undisclosed. The U.S. State Department has not yet issued an official response to Bangladesh’s proposal.
This potential deployment stems from a UN Security Council resolution adopted in mid-November that authorized the creation of a temporary International Stabilization Force. The force would operate under a ‘Board of Peace’ framework in coordination with participating nations.
The diplomatic movement occurs against a backdrop of stalled ceasefire negotiations. The initial truce agreement, implemented in October, has failed to progress beyond its first phase, with both Israeli and Hamas leadership accusing each other of violations. Since the ceasefire began, conflict monitoring groups report over 400 Palestinian fatalities and three Israeli soldier deaths.
Gaza’s humanitarian situation remains critical, with nearly all of the territory’s 2.3 million residents living in temporary shelters or structurally compromised buildings within confined areas where Israeli forces have withdrawn and Hamas has resumed administrative control.
The broader context includes Israel’s military campaign launched in late 2023 following Hamas attacks that killed approximately 1,200 Israelis and resulted in 250 hostages. The subsequent offensive has generated widespread international concern, with multiple UN experts and human rights organizations characterizing the response as disproportionate and potentially constituting genocide under international law—allegations Israel strongly denies while maintaining its actions represent legitimate self-defense.