by Amichai Stein
“The Turks are still pressing the US administration to be involved. They haven't given up,” one regional diplomat told The Jerusalem Post.
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Turkey was not invited to a Tuesday conference organized by US Central Command (CENTCOM) in Qatar regarding the International Stabilization Force (ISF) that is set to be deployed in the Gaza Strip
Mid-level officials from 32 countries attended the meeting, where they discussed key elements of the force's potential deployment, including command structure, rules of engagement, locations within Gaza, and the force’s role in disarming Hamas.
The absence of a Turkish delegation suggests that organizers accepted Israel’s objections to Ankara’s participation. Still, the issue appears unresolved.
“The Turks are still pressing the US administration to be involved. They haven't given up,” one regional diplomat told The Jerusalem Post. A second diplomat echoed that Ankara continues to lobby Washington behind the scenes.
“Turkey has no aggressive policy toward Israel; the last thing on their mind is the Ottoman Empire,” he said. “Our proposal is that Turkish forces could help reduce tensions. I understand why Israel doesn’t trust them, but it could certainly be helpful.”
The US has so far reached out to 17 countries, asking them to contribute troops to the future peacekeeping force. These nations are receiving regular updates, and Washington expects clear commitments, either “yes” or “no”, within days. The goal is to have about 10,000 troops on the ground in Gaza by early next year.
Amichai Stein
Source: https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-880438
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