Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has asserted that any international stabilization force deployed to Gaza would fail to gain Palestinian trust without Turkey’s direct participation. In a recent Bloomberg interview, Erdogan emphasized that legitimate on-the-ground actors must be included for such a mission to succeed, specifically referencing signatories to the Sharm El-Sheikh Declaration.
Erdogan stated, ‘Countries party to the Sharm El-Sheikh Declaration, including Turkey, are the most legitimate actors in this process. It would be difficult for any mechanism without Turkey to gain the trust of the Palestinian people.’ This position comes despite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s opposition to Turkish involvement, which has reportedly discouraged other potential contributors including Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia from providing troops.
The proposed international force stems from the Trump-brokered peace deal envisioning international troops guarding Gaza and assuming control of Hamas-controlled areas. While Netanyahu has attempted to exclude Turkish participation, President Trump notably refused to rule out Ankara’s involvement, praising Turkey’s capabilities during a joint press conference.
According to Turkish diplomatic sources, Ankara isn’t insisting on troop deployment but expresses concern about the potential collapse of agreements if Hamas distrusts the international force. Erdogan highlighted Turkey’s unique positioning for such a mission, citing ‘deep historical ties with the Palestinian side,’ maintained security channels with Israel, and regional influence as a NATO member.
The political maneuvering occurs against a devastating humanitarian backdrop in Gaza. Reports indicate Israeli forces have violated the ceasefire nearly 1,000 times since early October, with over 71,271 Palestinians killed and 171,233 wounded in the ongoing conflict. Winter conditions have exacerbated the crisis, with children dying from cold weather and collapsing infrastructure due to storms.
The Shelter Cluster reports more than 42,000 tents and makeshift shelters damaged in mid-December alone, affecting approximately 250,000 residents. Meanwhile, Israeli attacks continue across the enclave, with persistent shelling, gunfire, and airstrikes reported by local media.
A growing coalition of nations and organizations has condemned Israel’s restrictions on humanitarian operations. Recently, 37 aid organizations including Doctors Without Borders faced potential bans from operating in Gaza and the West Bank. The organization warned that ‘hundreds of thousands of Palestinians would be cut off from essential care’ if access is lost, emphasizing that the decimated health system and destroyed infrastructure require more services, not fewer.
The UN relief agency commissioner general cautioned that new Israeli restrictions on international NGOs are ‘further compromising the humanitarian operation in the Gaza Strip.’ In response, eight Arab and Islamic nations—Egypt, Qatar, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Turkey—issued a joint statement demanding Israel allow rights groups ‘sustainable, predictable and unrestricted’ access to territories, particularly during severe winter conditions.