Greece to join Gaza stabilization force with armed battalion
The Greek contingent will include armored vehicles — most likely M1117 Armored Security Vehicles — along with medics and engineers. The addition of a patrol and security component marks a more active role compared to Greece’s previous international deployment under the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan, where Greek forces focused primarily on humanitarian and reconstruction tasks.
The stabilization force forms part of the Gaza peace framework agreed between Hamas and Israel last October and mandated by United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803.
Greek officials say the move reflects Athens’ intention to play a stronger role in crisis management within its broader region. The structure and mandate of the Greek unit were finalized after consultations with both Washington and Israel. Greece was among the first countries to back the US proposal for the force.
The battalion will operate within the security perimeter established by the Israel Defense Forces and will be integrated into a broader multinational force initially numbering 8,000 troops under US Central Command leadership. Egypt and Israel are also expected to play key roles.
Two Greek officers have already been assigned to US-led civil-military coordination structures in Kiryat Gat, southern Israel. While no deployment date has been announced, the overall force is expected to expand to around 20,000 personnel — significantly smaller than ISAF at its peak strength of 180,000 troops.
