Israel Firmly Opposes Turkish Deployment
Israel has officially rejected the inclusion of Turkish armed forces in a proposed international stabilization force for Gaza. The announcement came from Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Monday, October 27, 2025, during a news conference in Budapest. Saar emphasized that any nation contributing troops to such a force must demonstrate impartiality towards Israel.
The rejection is a direct response to a US-brokered ceasefire plan, initiated by President Donald Trump, which aims to establish an international presence to monitor the truce that began earlier this month, concluding two years of conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Reasons for Israel's Stance
Foreign Minister Saar cited Turkey's 'hostile approach' towards Israel, led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as the primary reason for the refusal. This hostility, according to Saar, includes 'not only hostile statements, but also diplomatic and economic measures.' Turkish President Erdogan has been a vocal critic of Israel's military actions in Gaza, comparing them to genocide and likening Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Adolf Hitler.
Furthermore, Israel views Turkey's continued ties with Hamas, which Ankara does not classify as a terrorist organization, as a significant impediment to its participation in a security force. Israeli officials are concerned that Turkey's involvement might aim to preserve Hamas rather than dismantle it.
The US Ceasefire Plan and International Reactions
The 20-point US plan envisions an international force to secure the fragile ceasefire, train, and support 'vetted Palestinian police forces' in Gaza. While the Trump administration has ruled out deploying US soldiers, it has engaged with several countries, including Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and Azerbaijan, regarding potential contributions.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously hinted at strong opposition to a Turkish role, stating that 'Israel will determine which forces are unacceptable to us.' US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during a visit to Israel, affirmed that the international force would need to comprise 'countries that Israel's comfortable with,' without specifically mentioning Turkey. King Abdullah II of Jordan also weighed in, emphasizing that the mandate for any security forces in Gaza should be focused on peacekeeping rather than peace enforcement.
Turkey's Ambitions and Deteriorating Relations
Despite Israel's clear rejection, Turkey has expressed its readiness to contribute to the international force and has played a role in the ceasefire negotiations. However, the once-warm relations between Turkey and Israel have severely deteriorated during the recent conflict. This diplomatic strain underscores the complexities of establishing a multinational security presence in the volatile Gaza Strip.
5 Comments
Africa
Israel always finds a way to block peace. This is unacceptable.
Bermudez
Security first. Israel knows who it can trust, and it's not Turkey.
paracelsus
The US ceasefire plan relies on international cooperation, but Israel's rejection of Turkey highlights the deep divisions that still exist. Finding truly neutral parties for monitoring a truce in such a volatile region is incredibly challenging.
eliphas
Turkey's willingness to contribute is a positive step towards regional stability, yet their historical ties to groups like Hamas make Israel's distrust a significant hurdle for their inclusion.
paracelsus
It's difficult to form an unbiased international force when so many nations have strong opinions on the conflict. Israel's demand for comfort with participants is logical, but limits options significantly.