Türkiye says Gaza peacekeepers will not pose threat to Israel

Türkiye has assured that the peacekeeping forces it plans to deploy to the Gaza Strip will not pose a threat to Israel.

Speaking to the Japanese news agency, Turkish Defence Minister Yaşar Güler said the forces had been prepared for an international stabilisation mission and had already begun relevant exercises, Caliber.Az reports per Turkish media.

According to Güler, Ankara’s only goal in sending troops to a future peacekeeping force would be to support humanitarian assistance and help end the fighting, adding that such a deployment “would not pose a threat to Israel."

Earlier, Israeli Diaspora Minister Amichai Chikli, known for his strong anti-Türkiye views, urged the severing of diplomatic relations with Türkiye, labelling it “an enemy state” and warning that Israeli forces “cannot accept, no matter what,” the presence of Turkish troops in Gaza.

“I think we should cut ties with Türkiye. It's an enemy state,” Chikli said.

Chikli added that he was “one of the first ministers to identify Türkiye as an enemy state” and has previously called for the closure of the Turkish consulate.

By Aghakazim Guliyev