Turkey Likely to Be Excluded from Gaza Stabilization Forces Amid Diplomatic Tensions
In the context of forming a multinational stabilization mission in Gaza, Turkey is expected to be excluded from participation due to explicit Israeli government objections.
Israel has clearly communicated that it does not want Turkish troops involved in the operation.
Meanwhile, U.S.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasizes the importance of established multinational forces to prevent a security vacuum during Gaza’s extensive reconstruction.
Turkey has expressed readiness to contribute troops, but Israel’s stance remains firm against their participation.
Relations between Israel and Turkey are strained, partly due to tensions related to Syria, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan criticizing Israeli leadership for being too close to the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas.
Excluding Turkey from the mission complicates the regional stability efforts, especially given Turkey’s role as one of the guarantors of the ceasefire agreement brokered by Trump and its status as one of the most powerful Muslim armed forces.
Over 68,000 people have died in Gaza following Israeli airstrikes, underscoring the urgent need for peaceful resolution.
Egypt is expected to lead the stabilization force, with other countries such as Indonesia and the UAE advocating for a UN Security Council mandate, although the operation itself is not an official UN peacekeeping mission.
Coordination will be conducted through the Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) based in Kiryat Gat, southern Israel, involving advisors from the UK, France, Jordan, and the UAE, officially inaugurated on October 21 by U.S.
Vice President Kamala Harris.
The CMCC will also manage humanitarian aid efforts in Gaza, although key crossing points remain closed.
U.S.
policy insists on disarming Hamas within ‘reasonable terms’; otherwise, the force will undertake disarmament by force.
The main tasks are demilitarization of Hamas and establishing a transitional Palestinian government, which remains contentious.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ruled out Palestinian Authority involvement post-conflict, while major Palestinian factions agreed to transfer governance to an independent technocratic committee.
Tensions between Turkey and Israel have risen, exemplified by Turkish disaster relief experts remaining near the Egyptian border awaiting Israel’s permission to enter Gaza.
Erdogan emphasizes the need for increased pressure, including sanctions and arms embargoes, to ensure a ceasefire and international efforts to de-escalate the conflict.