JAKARTA - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey is ready to contribute to the International Stabilization Force (ISF) being considered for the Gaza Strip, Palestine.
In comments published by Bloomberg Monday, President Erdogan also warned that the mission was at risk of failing without Ankara's participation.
"We are in a position as a key country for such a mission because of our deep historical relations with the Palestinians, the security and diplomatic channels we have had with Israel in the past, and our regional influence as a NATO member country," President Erdogan explained, quoted from Daily Sabah (6/1).
"Our political will is clear; we are ready to bear any responsibility for lasting peace in Gaza," he said.
President Erdogan made the remarks hours before a scheduled phone call with US President Donald Trump.
Furthermore, he explained, those who are entitled to participate in this process are those who participate in the Gaza Peace Summit 2025 or the Sharm El Sheikh Summit on October 13, 2025 in Egypt. It is known that the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, attended this summit.
"The most legitimate actors in this process are those who are parties to the Sharm al-Sheikh Declaration," said President Erdogan.
President Erdogan also underlined Turkey's unique role in the world in mediating conflicts, especially the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
"We are the only party that can conduct direct talks both with President (Ukraine Volodymyr) Zelenskyy and President (Russian Vladimir) Putin while engaging in real, strong and balanced diplomacy with NATO and at the UN level at the same time," he said.
It is known that Israel opposes Turkey's contribution to the ISF mission in Gaza, which will consist of peacekeepers from various countries.
Turkey has expressed its readiness to join other countries in the ISF and expressed its readiness to contribute to the reconstruction of Gaza as well.
Last December, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said "Turkey is ready to do whatever it takes" to contribute to ongoing peace efforts related to Gaza, when asked about sending troops to the Palestinian enclave.
Stating that comprehensive discussions are underway on the ISF, Foreign Minister Fidan told the Doha Forum in the Qatari capital, a thorough assessment is being carried out on how the forces will be deployed, what their mission is and under what rules the forces will operate.
He called for a "realistic" approach to the mission of the troops when setting expectations, "because there is a reality on the ground."
"I think our first goal in deploying the ISF should be to separate the Palestinians from the Israelis on the border line. This must be our main goal. Then, we can handle the other remaining issues," explained Foreign Minister Fidan.
It is known that US President Donald Trump on September 29, 2025 announced a 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza, including a ceasefire, the release of Israeli prisoners, the disarmament of Hamas, Israel's withdrawal from the area, the formation of a technocratic government, and the deployment of international stabilization forces.
The first phase of the agreement came into force on October 10, 2025, but Israel continued to violate several provisions and delayed the transition to the second phase.
Since the ceasefire agreement came into force on October 10, the Israeli army has committed hundreds of violations, killing 420 Palestinians and injuring 1,184 others, according to the Ministry of Health.
The ceasefire halted Israel's brutal two-year-old aggression since October 7, 2023, which killed nearly 71,400 Palestinians, mostly women and children, injured more than 171,200 others and left the territory in ruins.
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