Turkey has positioned itself as a crucial player in stabilizing the initial cease-fire in the Gaza Strip. The nation hopes to leverage its strong military, seasoned construction sector, and established ties with Hamas to shape the territory’s future.
However, Israel vehemently opposes this involvement.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was instrumental in urging Hamas to accept the cease-fire, thereby solidifying Turkey’s role as a primary guarantor. Yet, throughout the conflict, he has been a vocal critic of Israel, consistently supporting Hamas—an organization Turkey, unlike Israel and many other nations, does not classify as a terrorist group.
As the conflict intensified, Mr. Erdogan severed diplomatic relations and trade with Israel. He has repeatedly labeled the war a ‘genocide’ and has even drawn comparisons between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Adolf Hitler.
During Vice President JD Vance’s recent visit to Israel, reporters questioned Mr. Netanyahu about the possibility of Turkish security personnel participating in postwar Gaza. His terse reply: “I have very strong opinions on that. You want to guess what they are?”
While Mr. Vance stated that the United States would not impose any foreign troops on Israel, he did suggest that Turkey could play a “constructive role.”
What Turkey Aims to Offer
This month, Mr. Erdogan declared that Turkey would “meticulously monitor the word-for-word implementation” of the cease-fire agreement. He also expressed Turkey’s intent to engage in on-the-ground enforcement and reconstruction efforts.
“We will support the reconstruction activities with the international community to put Gaza back on its feet,” he affirmed.
Last week, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan confirmed that Turkish officials assisted in monitoring the initial cease-fire. He added that any decision regarding Turkey’s participation in a proposed international stabilization force for Gaza would depend on the detailed definition of its structure and rules of engagement.
On Thursday, a spokesperson for the Turkish Defense Ministry informed journalists that the ministry was prepared to contribute to “protecting the peace with its experience from previous peace missions.” The potential responsibilities of such a stabilization force, the spokesperson elaborated, could encompass aid distribution, security patrols, border surveillance, and safeguarding civilian infrastructure.
Palestinians collecting aid packages this month in Khan Younis, Gaza.
Why Israel Opposes Turkish Involvement
Given Turkey’s long-standing political backing for Hamas, Israel harbors significant mistrust regarding its intentions in Gaza.
Israeli officials fear that Turkey’s goal is to ensure the militant group’s survival in Gaza, rather than facilitate its dismantlement.
“If you want to have peace, if you want Hamas to disappear,” then Turkey cannot be involved in Gaza, stated Amichai Chikli, a minister in Mr. Netanyahu’s government, during an interview.
“Turkey supports Hamas. That’s a very simple equation,” he asserted.
Ironically, it was precisely Turkey’s relationship with Hamas that allowed Mr. Erdogan’s government to pressure its leaders into agreeing to the cease-fire. “That is how ultimately Turkey came to sit at that table,” explained Sinan Ulgen, director of Edam, an Istanbul-based research institution. “It is based on its relationship with Hamas, not on its relationship with Israel.”
Israel is also cautious of Turkey’s aid initiatives in Gaza. In 2010, an independent Turkish aid organization arranged a flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, which Israel had blockaded since Hamas took power in 2007. Israeli commandos boarded the vessels, resulting in the deaths of nine activists aboard the Mavi Marmara ship and drawing widespread international condemnation. Israel maintained that the flotilla activists were supporting Hamas.
People waving Palestinian and Turkish flags as the Mavi Marmara returns to Istanbul in 2010 after being stormed by Israeli commandos months earlier.
During his visit to Israel this week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that an international stabilization force in Gaza would need to consist of “countries that Israel’s comfortable with.”
Gallia Lindenstrauss, an expert on Israeli-Turkish relations at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv, warned of potential risks associated with Turkish troops operating near Israeli soldiers: “What would happen if there would be an accidental clash?”
Ms. Lindenstrauss expressed Israel’s skepticism, suggesting the Turks’ true motive might be not merely to enforce the cease-fire as written, but to influence the situation on the ground to their advantage and gain more leverage against Israel.
What Turkey Seeks in Gaza
Analysts suggest that Turkey’s desire for a role in postwar Gaza is driven by both domestic and international political aspirations.
“There is broad support among the public for Turkey taking a role in the stabilization and eventually the reconstruction of Gaza,” commented Mr. Ulgen. “It also allows Erdogan to continue to uphold his image as an influential leader at the international level, which plays well with his domestic constituency.”
Ahmet Kasim Han, a professor of international relations at Beykoz University in Istanbul, added that Turkey also aims to secure reconstruction contracts for its construction companies in Gaza, provided the funding comes from external sources.
Mr. Erdogan’s administration also foresees a continuing political role for Hamas in Gaza’s future, according to Mr. Han.
“Turkey wants Hamas to remain relevant, and it realizes that the only way for Hamas to remain relevant is for it to give up its arms,” he stated, expressing doubt that Hamas would comply with this condition. “Neither Turkey nor anyone else can force Hamas to do that.”