Government approves proposal for sending KSF to Gaza, decision passes to Parliament

Under the legislation in force, after the executive decision, the issue passes on to lawmakers for review and vote, while eventually the approval of the country's president is also required.

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, during the Government meeting, said that “we are willing to participate and help Gaza's people because we ourselves have been and have been benefiting international forces since 1999”.

Defence Minister Ejup Macedonia stressed that through this commitment Kosovo aims to prove that it is a reliable and willing partner to act side-by-side allies in support of peace and security.

This decision further strengthens the international profile of our state, affirms the professionalism of the KSF, and puts our republic in the order of states that not only benefit from international security but also contribute consistently to the preservation of peace and international rule”, he said.

The decision to send troops was adopted without a vote against and no abstention.

Sending KSF troops forwards to take place under the International Stabilisation Force (FNS), a mechanism created as part of the so-called Peace Board initiative proposed by US President Donald Trump, for achieving world peace.

Kosovo is among the first five states along with Indonesia, Morocco, Kazakhstan and Albania that have pledged commitment to the mission, aimed at providing security and monitoring the ceasefire at the Gaza Strip.

Yet, it is still not known when exactly the number and number of troops will occur. The defence ministry has announced earlier that the proposal on the case was forwarded to Government on March 3rd.

The Government's decision comes after the functioning of the Parliament's work, following the Constitutional Court's decision on March 25th, has paved the way for handling such issues.

In addition to authorising troops, the Assembly should also approve the agreement on Kosovo's membership in the International Stabilisation Force.

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani, who has been among the founders of the Peace Board, has publicly supported this initiative. Its presidential mandate ends April 4th.

According to Israeli public broadcaster KAN reports, the International Stabilisation Force is expected to launch engagement in Gaza by May, including dozens of soldiers from Kosovo, although institutions in Pristina have not officially confirmed that deadline.

Defence Minister Ejup Macedonia has initially declared sending over 20 specialised soldiers to various fields, including units for demination and disposal of undisposed tools (EOD), special operations, planning and medical teams.

Ministry officials have announced that they are in constant co-ordination with the FNS structures and that a liaison military has been appointed to prepare the delocation.

The International Stabilising Force is expected to be tasked with stabilising the security situation in Gaza after the war began in October 2023, when Hamas declared a terrorist organisation by the US and the European Union attacked Israel, killing over 1,200 people and taking hostages.

The subsequent Israeli attacks on Gaza caused tens of thousands of victims, humanitarian crisis and major infrastructure damage.

The plan to establish this force is part of a broader package for achieving peace, which has been accepted by the parties in the conflict.

This would not be the first time the KSF is dislocated abroad. In 2021, she participated in a mission to Kuwait in collaboration with American forces, and in 2022 in the Falkland Islands, in collaboration with the United Kingdom.

The KSF is currently in the process of becoming a full army, the process expected to be completed by 2028.

At the end of the meeting, the Government made several other decisions, including sharing a financial reward for the Kosovo Football Federation (FFK), following Kosovo's victory in the pleof match that draws it to the World Cup qualifications.

Likewise, the executive also approved paying the 13th salary for about 91.2 thousand employees engaged in the public sector at the local and central level.