Israel does not want soldiers from Turkey in the multinational mission in Gaza: “There will be no Turkish boots on the ground”
Recep Erdogan during a speech in the Turkish parliament, PHOTO: Depo / Zuma Press / Profimedia
The Israeli government announced on Sunday through a spokeswoman that Turkish soldiers will not be deployed in Gaza as part of the multinational force that will take over control from the Israeli army, reports Reuters, taken over by Agerpres.
“There will be no Turkish boots on the field,” spokeswoman Shosh Bedrosian answered a question from the media.
The peace plan of American President Donald Trump for the end of the war between Israel and the Hamas group in the Gaza Strip, provides that a temporary international stabilization force will gradually take over security in that territory.
The force has not yet been created and many countries believe it will have to have a mandate from the UN Security Council.
This month, at a security conference in Manama, the US ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack, was asked about Israel's objections to Turkey's participation in the international force. He stated that Turkey will contribute to those forces.
US Vice President JD Vance said last month that Ankara could play “a constructive role”, but Washington would not impose anything on Israel regarding foreign troops “on their soil”.
Israel accused of genocide in Gaza
Since the start of the Gaza war, Turkish-Israeli relations have deteriorated considerably. Turkey, one of the countries most critical of Israel's war in the Palestinian enclave, last year joined the genocide proceedings launched by South Africa against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Turkish justice on Friday issued arrest warrants for “genocide” on behalf of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials, including Defense Minister Israël Katz and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, reports AFP.
Arrest warrant for 'genocide' for Benjamin Netanyahu issued by Turkey
In total, 37 suspects are subject to arrest warrants, the general prosecutor's office in Istanbul stated, without providing the full list, which also includes the Israeli Chief of Staff, Eyal Zamir, according to Agerpres.
The General Prosecutor's Office in Istanbul denounces the “genocide and crimes against humanity systematically committed by the Israeli state in the Gaza (Strip)”.
In September 2024, at the UN General Assembly, President Recep Erdogan compared Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler, calling for him to be stopped.
“Just as Hitler was stopped by an alliance of humanity 70 years ago, Netanyahu and his network of assassins must also be stopped by an alliance of humanity,” Erdogan said during his speech at the 79th United Nations (UN) General Assembly in New York.
