Hundreds of soldiers in Rafah: the first Arab country to send military forces to Gaza
Globes presents a daily review of international media coverage regarding Israel. In this edition: Morocco becomes the first Arab nation to deploy soldiers to Gaza, Saudi Arabia forms a naval coalition to counter Houthi blockades, and a pro-Israel candidate wins a primary in Missouri.
Against the backdrop of an ever-evolving security situation, the lens of the world’s media reveals unique perspectives on events in Israel. We provide a daily overview of international coverage to help understand how the situation is perceived beyond our borders.
The articles presented in this section are drawn from major global newspapers and do not necessarily reflect the worldview of Globes.
1. How Morocco is reshaping its ties with Israel
"Moroccan tanks in Gaza to force peace — and across Morocco, things are boiling." This is how the British site Middle East Eye opens its report on Morocco becoming the first Arab and African nation to send military forces to the International Stabilization Force (ISF) in Gaza, established as part of Donald Trump’s "day after" peace plan. According to the article, Morocco signed the participation agreement on July 1, with reports indicating the number of soldiers deployed to Rafah was reduced from 500 to 200.
The report notes that the force is expected to operate in cooperation with the IDF on the ground, illustrating a deepening operational link between the two countries beyond formal diplomatic ties.
The article quotes the director of Morocco’s national defense, stating that the state's contribution demonstrates a commitment to peace and regional stability. Professor Saeed Sadiki of the University of Fes explains that "joining allows Morocco to renew its diplomatic involvement in the Palestinian issue." He suggests that given the current regional climate, Morocco's contribution will likely remain primarily humanitarian and diplomatic.
However, the article highlights a gap between official narratives and public sentiment: surveys show 89% of Moroccans oppose recognizing Israel, with only 6% supporting normalization.
2. Expert assessment: How Saudi Arabia can break the Houthi blockade
"Saudi Arabia is building a naval coalition to break the Houthi blockade in the Red Sea," writes columnist James Stavridis, a retired U.S. admiral and former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO, in Bloomberg. He argues that Saudi Arabia, having suffered significantly from the blockade, is leading a coalition to restore order to the shipping route.
At a meeting in Riyadh, 14 out of nearly 50 participating countries signed the agreement. The coalition includes a mix of major naval powers like Egypt, Turkey, and Pakistan, alongside smaller Arab forces from Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Jordan. Stavridis notes the absence of the UAE, citing ongoing disputes with Riyadh and their focus on countering Iranian drone and missile threats.
Stavridis details three key stages of the coalition's activity: broad intelligence efforts to map Houthi operations; the establishment of a central command center, likely aboard the Turkish flagship Anadolu or at the Saudi naval base in Jeddah; and the deployment of fast-response assets to escort oil tankers in protected convoys guarded by missile-armed frigates.
3. Congressional win over anti-Israel candidate
"IPAC has won in Congress again — this time in Missouri," reports the AP regarding Congressman Wesly Bell’s victory over progressive activist Cori Bush in the St. Louis Democratic primary. Bell benefited from generous backing by the pro-Israel organization IPAC, ousting Bush, who had previously condemned the IDF's operation in Gaza as "ethnic cleansing."
While Bell credited his victory to local district work rather than international issues, the AP highlights a broader trend: an AP-NORC poll found that 58% of Democrats now believe the U.S. "supports Israel too much," up from 45% in January 2024, indicating a shifting tide in Democratic public opinion.
