Ugandan MPs vote to deploy soldiers to Gaza peacekeeping force

Uganda's parliament voted on Thursday to deploy troops to Gaza as part of the international force proposed by US President Donald Trump's Board of Peace to secure the territory following the devastating Israel-Hamas war.

The successful motion, brought by the defence minister, is Uganda’s first public indication of its willingness to join the International Stabilization Force (ISF) for Gaza. Morocco also has pledged troops for the mission.

It was not immediately clear why Uganda agreed to deploy in Gaza, or if there was a quid pro quo involved. Some opposition lawmakers immediately questioned Uganda’s motive in the decision.

"We also need to know the funding of this force. Who is going to fund our stay in Gaza?" asked Enos Asiimwe, a member of parliament during the debate on the motion.

Defence Minister Kiryowa Kiwanuka, seeking the support of lawmakers, cited Uganda’s military capabilities stemming from its peacekeeping deployments in countries such as Somalia.

The force, proposed by Trump’s Board of Peace in February, would be led by American Major General Jasper Jeffers, who said in May that the 20,000-strong force would ensure “future prosperity and enduring peace."

Last week Trump announced a deal for Hamas to disarm and for Israel to withdraw its forces from Gaza.

According to that deal, the ISF would be deployed to Gaza after the completion of a phased withdrawal of Israeli troops.

The agreement, part of a broader ceasefire deal reached last year, calls for Israel to cease its military operations and for Hamas and its allies in Gaza to halt all militant activity.

The agreement also laid out in general terms what the decommissioning process would look like.

After the text of the agreement was released, Israel said it had “serious security concerns” and that it shared those with the US.

Israeli attacks have killed 1,250 people since the ceasefire deal was reached in October, an agreement that ended major fighting in the Israel-Hamas war that had raged for two years.

SOURCE:AFRICAN NEWS