Misbar Documents Expanded Activity at International Stabilization Force Base Near Gaza

Preparations are accelerating at a facility designated to support the International Stabilization Force (ISF) in Gaza, about 2.3 kilometers from the Gaza Strip border.

A comparison by Misbar’s team of Sentinel-2 satellite imagery captured on June 28 and July 25 found a newly paved path stretching about 160 meters through the center of the site. An aerial video published on July 26 showed three rows of vehicles, mobile units and six large structures.

The team matched features visible in the video with maps and satellite imagery, confirming the coordinates it had previously identified near the Kerem Shalom crossing. The developments come as Israel approved a legal framework allowing the force to enter Gaza, while the timeline for its deployment remains unclear.

Sentinel-2 satellite imagery from the European Union’s Copernicus program, captured on July 25, shows land preparation and paving work in the center of the site. According to measurements taken using the program’s browser tool, the paved path extends about 160 meters and ranges between 10 and 12 meters in width. The imagery also reveals additional changes in other areas of the site.

A comparison of satellite images from July 3 and July 25 provides a timeline of the site’s development. Images from July 3 show the early stages of preparation in the central area, while those from July 25 show further progress and the paved path in its current form.

Misbar’s team previously identified the likely location of the site on July 3 after analyzing satellite images and video footage of the surrounding area. The team placed the site at the coordinates [31.20807331, 34.2849693]. It is located approximately 2.27 kilometers from the Gaza Strip border, 1.6 kilometers from the Kerem Shalom crossing and about 1.3 kilometers from the Egyptian border.

New visual evidence published by Israeli media on Sunday, July 26, further supported Misbar’s findings. The aerial footage showed the site’s features and surrounding area, while the team’s geolocation analysis confirmed that they matched the location previously identified near the Kerem Shalom crossing.

The aerial video shows the paved area detected in satellite imagery, along with three rows of vehicles and military equipment.

According to Google Maps measurements, the site covers approximately 45,000 square meters. Its proximity to the Gaza Strip and its connection to roads leading to the Kerem Shalom crossing would allow troops and equipment to move into the territory within a short timeframe.

The latest aerial footage provides a clearer view of the internal layout of the facility designated to host the international force. It shows a complex of mobile housing units, six large hangars and an area containing vehicles and military equipment.

The developments coincided with a visit by Nikolay Mladenov, the high representative of the “Gaza Peace Council,” to the site on July 22, where he met with representatives of forces from Kosovo and Morocco preparing for deployment in Gaza.

Images from the meeting also showed the presence of an Israeli military official, highlighting the level of direct coordination between the Israeli army and the International Stabilization Force overseen by the council.

The following day, Israeli media reported that the Israeli Cabinet approved granting the International Stabilization Force (ISF) the same immunities granted to international organizations. The force is expected to operate in full coordination with the Israeli army in areas beyond the “Yellow Line” that are not under its control.

The timing of these political steps alongside advanced preparations at the site suggests that the facility may be nearing readiness to host the international force.

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