Turkey likely to be excluded from Gaza stabilisation force after Israeli objection

"Turkey will probably be excluded from the 5,000-strong stabilisation force that is to be set up inside Gaza after Israel made clear it did not want Turkish troops taking part. Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, said it was a requirement that Israel is comfortable with the nationality of the multinational force, set up to prevent a security vacuum when the massive task of reconstruction in Gaza starts."

"Turkey has said it is willing to offer troops, but Israel has let it be known that it disapproves of Turkish troops taking part in the force. Tensions between Israel and Turkey have grown over Syria and the Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan is seen by the Israeli government as too close to the Muslim Brotherhood and to Hamas itself."

"But the exclusion of Turkey from the stabilisation force would be controversial since it is one of the guarantors of the Trump 20-point ceasefire agreement, and is seen as one of the most capable Muslim armed forces. The force is still likely to be led by Egypt. Other contributors to the stabilisation force, such as Indonesia and the Emiratis, would still prefer the force to be given a UN security council mandate, even if it is not itself a UN peacekeeping force."

Turkey will probably be excluded from a 5,000-strong stabilisation force to be set up inside Gaza after Israel objected to Turkish troop participation. Marco Rubio said Israel must be comfortable with the national makeup of the multinational force to prevent a security vacuum during Gaza reconstruction. Turkey offered troops, but Israeli concerns reflect tensions over Syria and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's perceived ties to the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas. Exclusion is controversial because Turkey is a guarantor of the Trump ceasefire and a capable Muslim military. Egypt is likely to lead. Other contributors prefer a UN Security Council mandate and coordination with a US-led Civil-Military Coordination Centre in Kiryat Gat, which also has an aid coordination role despite closed crossings. The force will be tasked with disarming Hamas and securing a contested transitional Palestinian government.

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