Nickolay Mladenov, the High Representative for Gaza at the Peace Council, has intensified his efforts to push for the deployment of the International Stabilization Force recently formed by the council, to be stationed in specific areas of the Gaza Strip as part of implementing US President Donald Trump's ceasefire plan.

These moves come following meetings held by the Peace Council with representatives from many countries in Cyprus at the end of June and early July.

The Cyprus meetings focused on enabling the Gaza Management Committee, led by Palestinian Ali Shaat, to carry out its tasks, and implementing a plan related to establishing a pilot zone to relocate Palestinians there to create a residential area apparently made of caravans equipped with residents' needs, instead of comprehensive reconstruction in the Strip.

Relatives of the family of Firas al-Masri, his wife Salsabil, and their four children who were killed in Gaza City during burial ceremonies (AP)

Mladenov accuses Hamas of rejecting the 'road map' he had prepared, while the movement considers it biased and not binding on Israel.

Late Wednesday evening, Mladenov announced that he met with military officials from Morocco and Kosovo in preparation for the imminent deployment of their forces in the Strip, noting that the meeting took place during a visit to Gaza, without specifying the location. It is expected to have been held in Rafah city, which is under full Israeli control, and whose western areas, particularly the Tel al-Sultan neighborhood, would be the first locations for the pilot zone.

Moving forward! Multinational effort continues with Internarional Stabilization Force. Excellent debrief with Kosovo and Morocco contingents preparing next deployments with visit to Gaza today. Thank you for your contributions and looking forward to working together. @NCAG... pic.twitter.com/LMmiGgoRme

— Nickolay E. MLADENOV (@nmladenov) July 22, 2026

Mladenov described the meeting as fruitful, expressing thanks to the units from Morocco and Kosovo for their contributions and looking forward to working with them, stressing via X platform that multinational efforts with the International Stabilization Force continue.

This step came days after Mladenov signed an agreement with Morocco regarding the participation of its forces in the International Stabilization Force, deploying senior officers to the joint command of the force, and establishing a base to transport military vehicles dedicated to transport and logistical support to the force's command positions.

Israeli public broadcaster Kan noted that the Israeli political level has not yet given the necessary green light for the deployment of the International Stabilization Force and its entry into Gaza territory, due to not moving forward with any future plans regarding the Strip until Hamas fulfills its commitments to disarm, according to the Hebrew channel.

Field sources told Asharq Al-Awsat days ago that the construction of distinctive military towers, different from those of the Israeli army, was observed in areas near Rafah, as well as east of the central area and east of Jabalia in the north.

A satellite image shows part of an earthen wall being built by Israeli forces in the central Gaza Strip on July 7. The Bureij refugee camp appears on the left while the Gaza Valley cuts through the wall. An Israeli military base lies on the other side (AP).

A Palestinian source from civil society familiar with the work of the Gaza Management Committee told Asharq Al-Awsat that its members were recently informed of positive progress in behind-the-scenes negotiations, which will enable them to enter the Gaza Strip soon, without receiving further details.

The source explained that committee members speak of a positive atmosphere in Cairo in recent days, which they were informed of by Mladenov's team without receiving any clarifications.

When Asharq Al-Awsat asked sources from Hamas and Palestinian factions whether the negotiations had witnessed any new developments, those sources denied any developments that could be built upon, indicating that mediators are still communicating with all parties to try to narrow differences.