Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Turkey is ready to join a proposed international stabilization force for Gaza even though Ankara was left out of US-led planning talks in Doha.
Fidan’s remarks, aired Thursday by TRT World, came as the United States works with partners on a security and governance plan for Gaza, a Palestinian territory devastated after Israel’s two-year military campaign began following Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
The US Central Command hosted a conference in the Qatari capital of Doha on December 16 to discuss the structure and operations of an international force, with officials saying more than 25 countries were expected to take part in the force.
Turkey was not invited, reportedly due to Israeli objections to Turkish participation, after Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Israel would not accept Turkish armed forces in Gaza and described Turkey as hostile.
Turkey and the other countries want the ceasefire to move into a second phase that would include an international stabilization force along with a governance mechanism to oversee administration in Gaza, according to Fidan.
The Turkish foreign minister said discussions are taking place out of public view on how to combine a security force with a “peace board” and day-to-day executive mechanisms and he said he expected clearer results in the coming weeks.
Fidan asserted that repeated ceasefire violations risk collapsing the deal and said Turkey has been raising alleged violations with partners.
He said nearly 400 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire took effect on October 10 and that humanitarian aid flows remain below what the framework requires.
Ankara is prepared to contribute militarily, humanitarianly and technically if the stabilization plan moves forward despite Israel’s objections, Turkey’s top diplomat underlined.