Israeli PM rejects Turkish and Qatari presence in Gaza international force

PM Netanyahu with Israeli officials and soldiers on Mount Hermon. (Source: Maayan Toaf/GPO)

JAKARTA - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday vowed there would be no place for Turkish or Qatari troops in the post-war Gaza Strip, reiterating Israel's objections to the composition of the US-backed advisory panel for the Palestinian enclave.

As part of US President Donald Trump's 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza, the White House last week announced a "Peace Council," headed by President Trump himself, a Palestinian technocratic committee intended to govern the war-torn territory, and a second "Gaza executive council" that appears to be designed to have a more advisory role.

Netanyahu had previously expressed his objections to the composition of the "Gaza executive council."

"In the Gaza Strip, we are on the verge of the second phase of Trump's plan. Phase two means one simple thing: Hamas will be disarmed and Gaza will be demilitarised," Netanyahu told parliament, AFP reported (20/1).

"There will be no Turkish or Qatari soldiers in the Gaza Strip," he added, apparently referring to the International Stabilization Force (ISF) for the region set out in President Trump's plan.

It is known that, until now, the country of origin of the troops who will be tasked with providing security in Gaza and training new police forces to replace Hamas has not been determined.

On Friday, President Trump appointed US Major General Jasper Jeffers to lead the ISF in Gaza. Quoted from the US SOCOM website, Major General Jeffers has a long experience, ranging from leading paratrooper forces, armored infantry forces, Rangers, to special operations with operational areas ranging from Iraqi Freedom (Iraq) to Resolute Support (Afghanistan).

On Monday, Netanyahu continued by saying: "We have certain disagreements with our friends in the United States regarding the composition of the advisory council that will accompany the process in Gaza."

Earlier, Netanyahu's office on Saturday objected to the composition of the "Gaza Executive Council" which includes Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Qatari diplomat Ali al-Thawadi, along with other regional and international officials.

"The prime minister has instructed the foreign minister to contact the US secretary of state regarding this matter," said a statement from Netanyahu's office.

The Palestinian Peace Council did not explain the reason for its objection, but Israel has previously strongly objected to Turkey's role in post-war Gaza, with relations between the two countries sharply deteriorating since the war began in October 2023.

The "Peace Council" was originally designed to oversee Gaza's reconstruction, but the charter does not seem to limit its role to the occupied Palestinian territory.