WEB DESK: Israel has stated that it will not accept the presence of Turkish troops in Gaza under the international force, citing the American-led plan.
During a press conference in Hungary, Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi emphasized that countries willing to send troops to Gaza should at least adopt a fair attitude towards Israel. He further criticized Turkey under President Erdogan, accusing Ankara of harboring hostility towards Israel. Ashkenazi asserted that Israel cannot and will not allow Turkish armed forces into Gaza, stating that they have made this stance clear to their American counterparts.
Last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also indicated strong opposition to any role of Turkish security forces in Gaza. Netanyahu emphasized that Israel would decide which foreign forces are permitted to enter Gaza.
During a visit to Gaza on Friday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken remarked that the international force in Gaza should consist of countries that Israel trusts. According to news agencies, the Trump administration has declined to send U.S. troops to Gaza but is engaging with Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and Azerbaijan to participate in the international force.
Meanwhile, an Israeli newspaper claimed that Pakistani troops could be part of the international force deployed in Gaza. According to The Times of Israel, Israeli defense officials reportedly briefed lawmakers that Pakistan’s military might be included in the force established to restore stability after two years of conflict in Gaza.
Israeli website Wynet News reported that during a closed-door briefing last week, the Israeli Parliament’s Foreign and Defense Committee was told that Indonesia, Azerbaijan, and potentially Pakistan could contribute troops to the mission. Indonesia has already offered to send its military, while Azerbaijan has also expressed willingness to provide forces, according to the report.
However, there has been no official or public confirmation regarding the possible involvement of Pakistani troops so far. Yesterday, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Marriyum Aurangzeb, stated that the government’s foreign ministry would respond regarding Pakistan’s potential deployment in Gaza.
