Ankara, Turkey – The foreign ministers of Egypt and Turkey met in Ankara on Wednesday to discuss ongoing negotiations in New York regarding the proposed U.S. resolution to establish an international stabilization force in the Gaza Strip. The discussions also covered other regional and bilateral issues.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel-Aati emphasized the need for the international stabilization force to be a peacekeeping force, “not a peace-enforcing” one, during a joint press conference with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan. Abdel-Aati stated that the immediate priority is to solidify the ceasefire and then deploy international forces with a clearly defined mandate for peacekeeping, not enforcement. He stressed the importance of ensuring the U.S. draft resolution is practical and implementable.
“The resolution to establish an international force in Gaza must be carefully and precisely formulated, taking into account the rights of the Palestinian people in the future,” Abdel-Aati added. He also highlighted the importance of joint efforts with Turkey to support the ceasefire agreement in Gaza and transition to the next phase of implementation.
Fidan echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the need for clarity regarding the scope of operations for the planned stabilization force in Gaza. He stressed that the international community should remember the importance of entrusting the administration of Gaza affairs to the Palestinians themselves.
Furthermore, Fidan noted that Hamas has demonstrated a willingness to take constructive steps to ensure the continuation of the ceasefire. He expressed the hope that the Israeli side would adopt a similar approach.
Turkey has repeatedly expressed its desire to join a team monitoring the implementation of the ceasefire, including participating in an international stabilization force, for which a resolution is being sought from the UN Security Council. However, Israel has voiced opposition to Turkish participation, stating that Turkish forces will not be permitted in Gaza.
DZWatch will continue to monitor this developing situation.
