Türkiye has signalled readiness to contribute to a proposed Gaza stabilisation force during the inaugural Board of Peace meeting on Thursday (19 February), but according to former Turkish diplomat Mehmet Öğütçü, the decisive factor will be whether Israel and the United States agree on Ankara’s role.
Speaking to AnewZ from London, Öğütçü said Türkiye’s capabilities are not in question and that the uncertainty lies in the political environment.
“What Türkiye can provide is quite open and clear,” he said, pointing to Ankara’s ability to deliver not only financial assistance but also military support, reconstruction of roads and hospitals, police training and humanitarian aid.
However, he noted that Israel, which currently occupies Gaza and seeks to maintain control over its future security and reconstruction architecture, may be reluctant to accept Turkish troops on the ground.
“In Israeli politics there is a very strong anti-Turkish sentiment now,” Öğütçü said.
Whether Israeli authorities would allow Turkish boots in Gaza, he added, remains an open question.
For Ankara’s involvement to move forward, Öğütçü argued that a clear understanding must be reached between United States, Israel and Türkiye regarding the scope and limits of Türkiye’s participation.
He described Türkiye as a potential “bridging country” - a powerful regional actor capable of providing not only financial aid, as Gulf states are expected to do, but also tangible reconstruction and security support. He added that many residents of Gaza view Türkiye as a source of hope, giving Ankara a degree of local legitimacy.
At the same time, Öğütçü cautioned that without a clearly defined mandate, Turkish engagement could carry significant political and economic risks.
“Before Turkey and other nations - Indonesia, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Morocco - send troops, the role of each country must be well defined at the outset,” he said. Responsibilities in areas such as security, reconstruction, training and peacekeeping would require precise coordination.
Much, he argued, depends on how U.S. President Donald Trump chooses to proceed. Trump would likely face friction with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over Türkiye’s role, making Washington’s diplomatic management critical to the initiative’s success.
Even with U.S. backing, Öğütçü warned, the plan could fail if political differences are not reconciled.
“Otherwise, this could prove to be a catastrophe for Gaza again,” he said.
He added that Trump is likely to proceed cautiously, aiming to ensure that any stabilization initiative delivers results acceptable to both Israel and the Palestinians, while avoiding further destabilisation in the region.
A Chinese-linked hacking group secretly stole data from academic, medical and military research institutions in the U.S. and Canada for more than a ye...
U.S. President Donald Trump said a preliminary agreement to end the war in the Gulf has been signed by the U.S. and Iran, though details have yet to b...
In an historic milestone for South Caucasus diplomacy, Hikmat Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, conducted his first w...
A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber crashed on takeoff on Monday at Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California's Mojave Desert, bursting in...
Iran has said that reaching an agreement with the U.S. to end the war does not mean Tehran will overlook what it describes as war crimes committed aga...
A Chinese-linked hacking group secretly stole data from academic, medical and military research institutions in the U.S. and Canada for more than a year before being discovered, according to a report published by Google on Monday.
In an historic milestone for South Caucasus diplomacy, Hikmat Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, conducted his first working visit to Armenia on 14 June for a high-level meeting with Armen Grigoryan, Secretary of the Security Council of the Republic of Armenia.
The United Nations Security Council unanimously extended the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) until 17 June 2027 in New York on Monday, preserving its humanitarian, rights and political work.
The first day of the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Évian-les-Bains, France, was dominated by discussions on the Middle East, Ukraine and the global economy, as leaders grappled with multiple crises that have reshaped the international landscape.
Details of a reported draft memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran offer the clearest picture yet of how both sides plan to end months of conflict and move towards a longer-term settlement.
The U.S. and Iran say they have reached a deal to end their conflict, with an immediate ceasefire and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz after the lifting of the U.S. naval blockade. Talks will continue over the next 60 days to finalise the agreement
A senior U.S. official said on Monday that the memorandum of understanding linked to the U.S.-Iran agreement had been signed by President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told U.S. President Donald Trump that Israel does not consider itself bound by a Lebanon-related provision in an emerging agreement with Iran, according to Israeli officials.
Switzerland on Sunday rejected a referendum proposal to cap its population at 10 million, a projection showed, as voters prioritised economic stability and the country's ties with the European Union over immigration concerns.
In an historic milestone for South Caucasus diplomacy, Hikmat Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, conducted his first working visit to Armenia on 14 June for a high-level meeting with Armen Grigoryan, Secretary of the Security Council of the Republic of Armenia.
The Trans-Caspian East-West International Transport Corridor, commonly known as the Middle Corridor, is a multimodal trade route linking China and the European Union via Central Asia, the Caspian Sea, the Caucasus and Türkiye.
The United Nations Security Council unanimously extended the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) until 17 June 2027 in New York on Monday, preserving its humanitarian, rights and political work.
Iran has said that reaching an agreement with the U.S. to end the war does not mean Tehran will overlook what it describes as war crimes committed against Iranians by Israel and the United States.
Uzbekistan and five partner countries have signed a protocol to further develop the CASCA+ railway corridor, a growing transport route linking Central Asia, the South Caucasus and Türkiye that provides an alternative connection between Asian and European markets.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment