Israel-Turkey rift dampens Gaza force plans as allies get cold feet

Israel's opposition to Turkish deployment is causing potential partners such as Pakistan and Azerbaijan to hesitate, putting the US scheme at risk

By Ragip Soylu in Ankara

Published date: 2 December 2025

https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-turkey-rift-dampens-gaza-force-plans-allies-pull-back

The United States is struggling to create an international stabilisation force for Gaza, as stipulated by the UN Security Council, due to disagreements with Israel over Turkey’s participation, two people familiar with the issue told Middle East Eye.

The Security Council last month approved a resolution to create the force, securing official support from Turkey, Qatar, Egypt, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Pakistan and Jordan.

However, little progress has been made since then, the sources said.

Turkish officials have repeatedly stated that Ankara is ready to contribute to the force, but Israel has consistently indicated that it will not tolerate the presence of Turkish troops in the Gaza Strip.

Despite Israel’s opposition, Middle East Eye reported last month that the Turkish government had finalised plans to deploy a contingent of at least 2,000 soldiers to Gaza.

The force would be composed of personnel from multiple branches of the military with previous peacekeeping and conflict-zone experience.

Now, however, Turkey’s participation in the force appears increasingly uncertain.

“Without Turkey’s participation, countries like Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, Pakistan and Indonesia are not inclined to deploy troops,” one person familiar with the negotiations told MEE.

The UAE, on the other hand, announced last month that it would not join the force “for now”, citing the lack of a clear framework.

It remains unclear whether the Security Council resolution has convinced Abu Dhabi to reconsider its stance.

An Israeli report suggested that the UAE refused to join the Gaza force due to concerns over Qatari and Turkish influence, intimating that their involvement could empower groups linked to the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas.

“There are elements belonging to the Muslim Brotherhood who are taking a central role in the plan to reconstruct Gaza,” a source familiar with Abu Dhabi’s position told i24NEWS.

The UAE is expected instead to focus on humanitarian aid, reconstruction and supporting the establishment of an effective local government.

Israeli anger

A second person familiar with the issue told MEE that Ankara still expects the United States to persuade Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to accept Turkey’s participation.

“Washington remains insistent on deploying Turkish troops,” the source said.

The source added that Turkey’s sudden decision to issue an arrest warrant for Netanyahu last month on charges of crimes against humanity did not help the negotiations.

“Obviously, the Israelis are angered by this in the middle of the talks,” they said.

One person familiar with US planning told the Washington Post that the goal is for the force to consist of three brigades, perhaps up to 15,000 troops.

Another source said the international stabilisation force could include as many as 20,000 soldiers.

The Post reported a US official and saying the objective is to deploy the force in “early 2026”, although discussions about which countries will participate remain “a fluid process”.

Another US official told Israel’s Channel 14 this week that operations are expected to begin as early as January.

In November, Israel also blocked the entry of dozens of Turkish search and rescue personnel into the Gaza Strip. The team had been sent to help recover the remains of Israeli soldiers.

Tensions between Turkey and Israel have been running high due to Ankara’s actions against Netanyahu’s government at the International Court of Justice and a trade ban imposed since the spring of 2024.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called Israel’s war on Gaza a genocide and repeatedly urged the international community to hold Israeli leaders accountable.

The two countries are also at odds in Syria.

Netanyahu’s government reportedly wants to maintain control over certain territories in the south of the country as a buffer zone and opposes the deployment of any Turkish radars or sophisticated systems south of the T4 air base near Homs.