Turkey’s foreign minister, Hakan Fidan, has downplayed Israel’s objections to Ankara’s participation in the Gaza Stabilisation Force, saying that Tel Aviv “is not the only relevant actor” involved in the decision.
Speaking in an interview with a Turkish television channel on Thursday, Fidan said that discussions over the force involve multiple stakeholders, adding that Turkey remains in continuous contact with them.
He said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had made it clear from the outset that Ankara is fully prepared to provide all necessary support to the peace process and to contribute to humanitarian, military, security, technical and infrastructure efforts in Gaza.
Fidan said Turkey’s primary concern is identifying the urgent needs on the ground in Gaza, stressing that the question of who delivers the assistance is secondary.
“If others come and do what we are doing in Gaza in the name of humanity and human values, we have no problem with that,” he said. “But if our assistance is urgently needed, we are fully prepared to contribute.”
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The foreign minister referred to intensive diplomatic efforts aimed at securing a ceasefire in Gaza, describing President Erdoğan’s meeting with US President Donald Trump in New York last September as a turning point towards reaching an agreement.
He accused Israel of repeatedly violating the ceasefire, saying that the United States is fully aware of the seriousness of the situation. Fidan said that around 400 people have been killed by Israeli fire since the ceasefire agreement came into force, while Palestinians have continued to abide by its terms.
Fidan stressed that what is happening in Palestine is something Turkey must oppose and condemn, adding that Ankara has done so consistently through diplomatic channels since the beginning of the attacks on Gaza.
“Israel is completely unaccustomed to this level of criticism and condemnation from the international community,” he said, arguing that Israel has long been granted carte blanche to act as it sees fit under the pretext of security.
“Even if that means committing massacres,” he added. “This has been the case for decades. Israel has been granted an exception by the international system, but I believe that era is over.”
On 18 November, the UN Security Council adopted a US-drafted resolution by majority vote to end the Israeli war on Gaza, authorising the establishment of a temporary international force until the end of 2027.
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