Greece announced plans to send a battalion to the International Stabilization Force in Gaza, marking a more active role in crisis management compared with its previous deployment in Afghanistan.
The Greek contingent, numbering 100-150 personnel, will include medics, engineers, and armored vehicles, enhancing security operations. The battalion will likely operate M1117 armored security vehicles, similar to those used by US military police.
From 2002 to 2021, Greece participated in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan, providing medical aid, humanitarian assistance, rebuilding government buildings and schools, maintaining public works, and clearing minefields.
The Gaza Stabilization Force is part of the peace plan brokered between Hamas and Israel in October 2025 and mandated by United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803 on Nov. 17. Greece was among the first countries to back the US proposal, drawing praise from Washington and overcoming internal opposition to deploying forces in a potential conflict zone.
Two Greek officers have already been sent to the US-led Civil-Military Coordination center in Kiryat Gat, southern Israel, ahead of the full deployment. The battalion will operate within a security perimeter established by the Israel Defense Forces as part of an initial 8,000-strong international force led by the US Central Command, including contributions from Egypt and Israel.
The Stabilization Force is expected to expand to 20,000 personnel in the coming months, significantly smaller than ISAF’s peak of 180,000 troops in Afghanistan.