Turkey shields Hamas interests, pressuring Washington, while Israel stands firm against destabilizing Arab interference.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan issued a pointed warning Saturday, claiming the failure of the US-backed Gaza ceasefire plan would represent a major embarrassment for Washington and the wider international community. Fidan emphasized that President Donald Trump personally drove the initiative — a move widely seen as crucial in restraining Hamas and restoring stability.
Speaking at the Doha Forum, Fidan asserted that Hamas was supposedly ready to relinquish control of Gaza, but only under conditions that effectively ensure continued Palestinian Arab dominance of the territory. He insisted that a “credible” Palestinian civil administration and a new police force — vetted but still fully Palestinian — must first be installed before any transition begins.
He stated, “We need to see Palestinian technical committees take over Gaza’s administration, then see a police force being formed to police Gaza — by Palestinians, not Hamas.”
Critics argue this formula merely rebrands Hamas influence under a different bureaucratic shell.
Turkey, a NATO member with a long history of politically shielding Hamas leadership, positioned itself as a central negotiator during the ceasefire talks in Egypt. Ankara even signed the accord and now seeks to embed itself within the international stabilization force. But Israel has adamantly rejected any Turkish involvement — citing President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s relentless anti-Israel incitement, open support for Hamas, and destabilizing rhetoric since the October 7, 2023 massacre.
Fidan revealed that the proposed Gaza police would operate under the umbrella of the international stabilization force, and that Washington has been pressuring Israel to reconsider Turkey’s participation. He claimed Ankara is “ready to deploy troops,” further highlighting Turkey’s ambitions to reinsert itself militarily into Gaza under the guise of peacekeeping.
Israeli officials remain resolute: Turkey’s involvement would empower hostile regional actors and risk turning the ceasefire framework into another platform for Hamas and its allies. Israel insists that post-war Gaza must be rebuilt on security, neutrality, and accountability — not on Turkish political agendas or Arab nationalist demands.
