Bangladesh has informed the United States of its interest in joining the international stabilization force planned for Gaza. The announcement came after Bangladesh’s National Security Adviser, Khalilur Rahman, met US diplomats Allison Hooker and Paul Kapur in Washington on Saturday.
According to a government statement, Rahman “expressed Bangladesh’s interest in principle” to participate in the force, though the statement did not specify the scope or nature of the proposed involvement. The US State Department did not immediately comment.
A UN Security Council resolution adopted in mid-November authorized a temporary International Stabilization Force in Gaza, following a ceasefire that began in October. However, progress has stalled, and tensions remain high. Since the ceasefire, more than 400 Palestinians and three Israeli soldiers have been killed. Nearly all of Gaza’s 2 million residents continue to live in damaged or makeshift homes, with Hamas regaining control in the territory.
Israel and Hamas remain deeply divided over the next steps of the ceasefire, accusing each other of violations. The military assault by Israel since late 2023 has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths, widespread hunger, and the displacement of Gaza’s population. While multiple experts and UN inquiries have described these actions as amounting to genocide, Israel maintains its operations are acts of self-defense following the 2023 Hamas attack that killed 1,200 people and left over 250 hostages.
