US Pushes Israel to Accept Turkish Role in Post-War Gaza Stabilisation

Summary:

The United States is pressing Israel to accept a Turkish role in a proposed international stabilisation force for Gaza, arguing that Ankara’s involvement is essential for disarming Hamas and transitioning from a ceasefire to a new governing arrangement. Israel remains strongly opposed, warning that a Turkish military presence would undermine its security and risk direct confrontation.

US President Donald Trump is expected to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida on December 29, in what US officials describe as a renewed attempt to revive Washington’s Gaza plan.

The initiative aims to move beyond the current ceasefire toward the establishment of a new Palestinian governing authority in Gaza, the deployment of an international stabilisation force, and the disarmament of Hamas. Turkish and Egyptian officials met with their US counterparts in Miami last week as part of these efforts.

Washington Sees Turkey as Indispensable

From Washington’s perspective, Turkey’s participation is considered critical. Asli Aydintasbas of the Brookings Institution said Hamas disarmament would depend on the creation of a new Palestinian authority backed by international peacekeepers, with Turkey acting as a guarantor.

“Without Turkey in this process, decommissioning Hamas weapons would not occur,” she said, adding that Ankara’s involvement is an implicit assumption in the US plan.

Turkey’s close ties with Hamas are widely acknowledged. Senior Hamas figures have reportedly spent time in Turkey, and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has repeatedly rejected Western designations of Hamas as a terrorist organisation, instead describing its members as “liberation fighters.” Trump has publicly thanked Ankara for using its influence to encourage Hamas to engage with US-backed proposals.

Israel’s Objections

Israel has rejected any Turkish military presence in Gaza, arguing that Ankara would be more likely to shield Hamas than to disarm it. Israeli officials have also raised concerns about alleged cyber operations linked to Hamas that they say operate from Turkish territory.

“There is a risk of an accident between Israeli and Turkish forces, given the high level of tension and mistrust,” said Gallia Lindenstrauss, a Turkey specialist at Tel Aviv’s Institute for National Security Studies. “It is difficult to see a positive outcome.”

Israeli officials have so far failed to persuade the Trump administration to fully adopt their position. Analysts say Washington’s stance reflects both its own strategic priorities and the close personal relationship between Trump and Erdoğan.

Turkey Signals Readiness

Ankara has indicated it is prepared to contribute troops to a Gaza mission, with media reports suggesting a Turkish brigade could be placed on standby. Turkish officials argue that the country’s long experience in post-conflict stabilisation missions—from the Balkans to Afghanistan—positions it to operate effectively in Gaza.

Despite sharply deteriorating political relations since the Gaza war, the Turkish and Israeli militaries maintain limited channels of communication, including a hotline aimed at preventing incidents between their air forces over Syria.

Regional Skepticism

Turkey’s potential role also faces skepticism from other regional actors. Egypt and Saudi Arabia are said to distrust Ankara’s relationship with Hamas and question its intentions in Gaza, concerns that analysts say are reinforced by historical sensitivities dating back to the Ottoman period.

On Monday, US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack met Netanyahu in an effort to ease Israeli concerns. Analysts caution, however, that progress will likely depend on the outcome of the Trump–Netanyahu meeting.

“Because this is such a fundamental and existential issue for Israel, incentives alone are unlikely to work,” Aydintasbas said. She added that Washington appears reluctant to apply stronger pressure, such as conditioning military or financial assistance, raising the risk that the issue could remain unresolved.

By Dorian Jones

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