The President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said that the planned International Stabilization Forces in Gaza could hardly have full legitimacy if Turkey did not participate in them.
According to him, the trust of the Palestinian people is a key element of any future security arrangement after the war.
Erdogan’s messages were delivered in a written interview at a time when talks are intensifying about the initiative, backed by the United States of America, which envisages the assumption of security responsibility in parts of Gaza by international forces.
The Turkish president, known as a harsh critic of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel’s military operation in Gaza, warned that excluding Ankara would seriously damage the credibility of the future mission on the ground.
– Turkey is in the position of a key actor for this kind of mission, thanks to deep historical ties with the Palestinians, earlier security and diplomatic channels with Israel, and our regional influence as a member of NATO. Our political will is clear and we are ready to take responsibility for lasting peace in Gaza – Erdogan said.
He added that the signatory states of the Sharm el-Sheikh Declaration, including Turkey, should play a central role in the eventual international mission, stressing that any structure without Turkish participation would have difficulty gaining the trust of the Palestinian public.
The proposed stabilization force is part of a broader initiative brokered by US President Donald Trump that calls for an international security presence to protect Gaza and take control of areas currently under Hamas rule.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu opposed Turkey’s involvement in such a mission, and expressed his reservations during talks with the US administration in December 2025.
This attitude reportedly discouraged the possible participation of soldiers from countries such as Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia, making the formation of multinational forces even more difficult.
Turkish diplomatic circles say that Ankara does not necessarily insist on sending its troops to Gaza, but they warn that the whole plan could fail if Hamas and the Palestinian public do not have confidence in international forces.
US President Donald Trump, on the other hand, stated that he does not rule out the possibility of Turkish participation, stating that he sees Turkey as a capable and relevant partner, while talks on the final structure and composition of forces continue.
(Vijesti.ba)
