Marrakech – Morocco is one of only three countries that have actually delivered on their financial commitments to Donald Trump’s Board of Peace for Gaza.
Reuters published an investigation on April 10, confirming that out of the ten countries that pledged funds, only Morocco, the UAE, and the United States have contributed money so far.
The total amount received stands at under $1 billion. That figure falls far short of the $17 billion originally pledged during a Washington conference in February, ten days before the US-Israeli war on Iran threw the region into deeper chaos.
The funding shortfall has had direct consequences. According to Reuters, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), a US-backed group of Palestinian technocrats meant to take over governance from Hamas, has been unable to enter the Strip.
Board envoy Nickolay Mladenov informed Palestinian factions directly that no money is currently available. The committee’s 14 members remain in a Cairo hotel under American and Egyptian supervision.
The Board of Peace denied the report. It issued a statement calling itself a “lean, execution-focused organization” and insisting all funding requests had been met in full. Reuters, however, cited sources with direct knowledge of operations who contradicted that claim.
Moroccan outlet Le Desk raised a separate concern. It noted that the $17 billion figure used by Reuters conflates commitments of very different natures.
Some pledges cover Gaza reconstruction. Others relate to the $1 billion fee required under the Board’s charter for permanent membership. The distinction matters but remains unclear because of the financial opacity surrounding the entire process.
That ambiguity also applies to Morocco’s own contribution. Médias24 reported in February that the Board’s charter requires a $1 billion payment for a permanent seat.
Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita described Morocco’s contribution as the “first-ever financial contribution” to the Board, but did not specify the amount. A US diplomatic source told Médias24 that all contributions are voluntary and considered part of the Gaza engagement. Rabat has not publicly clarified further.
What is clear is that Morocco has made extensive commitments beyond funding. Bourita announced at the Board’s inaugural meeting on February 19 that Morocco would deploy police officers to Gaza and train local policemen.
He confirmed Rabat would send high-ranking military officers to the International Stabilization Force’s (ISF) joint command and establish a military field hospital. Morocco also committed to leading a deradicalization program.
ISF Commander Major General Jasper Jeffers listed Morocco alongside Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Albania, and Kosovo among troop-contributing nations. Israeli broadcaster KAN 11 reported in March that Israel was preparing for the entry of thousands of foreign soldiers into Gaza as early as May 1.
ISF representatives from the five countries were expected in Israel by late March for preliminary tours, with troops heading to Jordan in April for live-fire exercises. The force was set to initially operate around the Palestinian city being built by the UAE near Rafah before expanding to other areas.
The ISF’s long-term plan calls for 20,000 troops and 12,000 trained police officers. Contributing countries have stressed their forces would be limited to peacekeeping, border security, and humanitarian tasks. They have ruled out any operations requiring confrontation with Hamas or disarming armed factions.
Morocco’s involvement comes as Gaza’s reconstruction is estimated at $70 billion by global institutions. Israel’s two-year genocidal campaign killed over 72,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians, destroyed four-fifths of the territory’s buildings, and displaced the vast majority of its population.
The disarmament talks remain deadlocked. Hamas says it will not disarm without guarantees of Israeli withdrawal. Israel says Hamas must lay down arms first. A diplomatic source told Reuters the deadlock has raised fears that Israel is seeking a pretext to relaunch full-scale operations.
