Israel Opposes Turkish Troops in Gaza Ceasefire Force
Israel announced today it will not permit Turkish military personnel to participate in an international force proposed to oversee the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, citing longstanding hostility from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The U.S.-brokered 20-point deal, reached earlier this month, calls for an international force to monitor the ceasefire and train Palestinian police, but does not specify contributing nations. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar stated Israel has communicated its opposition to U.S. officials, emphasizing that participating countries should be “fair to Israel.” This development comes as questions mount regarding the mandate of the force, with some Arab nations seeking a focus on peacekeeping rather than enforcement. Jordan’s King Abdullah II recently told the BBC that the force’s role must be peacekeeping, stating, “What is the mandate of security forces inside of Gaza? And we hope that it is peacekeeping, because if it’s peace enforcing, nobody will want to touch that.”
The announcement coincides with the ongoing exchange of remains of hostages held in Gaza for Palestinian bodies held by Israel. As of today, the remains of 16 hostages have been returned since the ceasefire began on October 10th, with another 12 still awaiting recovery. In exchange, Israel has returned 195 Palestinian bodies to Gaza. The ongoing hostage recovery process is a critical component of the ceasefire agreement, aiming to bring closure to families on both sides. For more information on the conflict, see the Council on Foreign Relations’ coverage.
Turkey has expressed readiness to support Gaza, and officials have indicated preparation for various roles, including peacekeeping and humanitarian aid. However, Israel points to Erdogan’s criticism of Israel – including accusations of genocide and comparisons to Adolf Hitler – and Turkey’s ties with Hamas as reasons for its opposition. Prime Minister Netanyahu affirmed yesterday that Israel will determine which forces are unacceptable, a position he says the U.S. understands. The U.S. is currently seeking a U.N. mandate for the international force, and around 200 U.S. troops are already in Israel supporting coordination and planning for Gaza’s stabilization and reconstruction, as detailed in the Associated Press’s ongoing coverage.
Officials expect further discussions regarding the composition and mandate of the international force as the first phase of the ceasefire agreement continues.
