Türkiye ready to send military contingent to Gaza if necessary, says FM

Türkiye may take responsibility for resolving the Palestinian issue and is ready, if necessary, to send a military contingent to the Gaza Strip, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said.

In an interview with Al Jazeera, he said that there are necessary steps to move to the second phase of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, stressing that implementing some of the provisions falls on Washington and President Donald Trump, Caliber.Az reports.

The Foreign Minister emphasised that Türkiye is working with Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates to implement the agreement, noting that these countries are currently waiting for certain steps to be carried out, particularly the formation of a "Peace Council," the handover of Gaza Strip administration to the Palestinians, and the establishment of a police force.

He noted that security problems in the Strip will end once political guarantees are implemented, pointing out that the United States has begun providing greater support and taking more rational steps due to Turkish contacts with it.

Fidan indicated that Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s main goal is to displace Gaza and West Bank residents and annex these areas to Israel, while stressing that if the agreement advances by bringing in aid and returning people to their homes, the stabilisation force will encounter no obstacles in carrying out its work.

On December 11, US President Donald Trump said that the names of world leaders expected to participate in the Gaza Peace Council will be announced at the beginning of next year.

Trump told reporters during an economic event in the White House Roosevelt Room that a number of leaders wish to join the council, which was established under the Gaza plan reached through the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel.

The United Nations Security Council had adopted a resolution on November 17 allowing the formation of a Peace Council and for the countries working with it to establish a temporary international force to achieve stability in Gaza.

By Jeyhun Aghazada