As-salamu alaykum - Turkey moves into the spotlight in Gaza peace efforts
As-salamu alaykum - If diplomacy were a stage play, Turkey had mostly been a supporting actor alongside Egypt and Qatar in talks to end the two-year Gaza war. But at the last minute President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his inner circle stepped out in front.
A senior Turkish official said Turkey’s foreign policy is based on values and principles, and that has pushed the country to take a more public role in trying to stabilise Gaza.
Turkey is preparing to join an international force meant to help secure Gaza and train Palestinian police, according to officials. They say the Turkish Armed Forces are ready to take on duties within international law to help establish and keep peace.
At the same time, an 81-member specialist team from Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) is in Egypt, waiting for permission to enter Gaza to assist with search and recovery work. Turkish sources say the team’s job is to find both Palestinian and Israeli bodies, and also look for hostages who may be buried or trapped in collapsed buildings. Initially Israel preferred to work with a Qatari team, but Turkish officials hope access will be granted soon.
Under the ceasefire deal, Hamas is supposed to hand over the remains, but the group says it is struggling to reach some areas because of massive destruction across Gaza, and delays are threatening the process.
In recent weeks Mr Erdogan sat alongside US President Donald Trump when the US put forward a 20-point plan to end the war. Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin has met Hamas, Egyptian and Qatari officials as mediators worked to get Hamas to accept the first phase of the plan - a ceasefire and the release of living and dead Israeli hostages.
At a summit in Sharm El Sheikh, Erdogan joined other regional leaders in signing a pledge to support the ceasefire plan. The wording of that pledge is a bit vague, so it leaves room for different interpretations, but it adds another layer of commitment on paper.
Turkey has also been publicising its aid efforts to Gaza. Erdogan has said Turkey can send containers to replace tents before winter, and a ship carrying 900 tonnes of supplies left Mersin recently headed for Egypt to deliver aid to Gaza.
Relations between Turkey and Israel, which had been improving, have since deteriorated during this war. Turkey’s leaders have been sharply critical of Israel, and Ankara takes a different view of Hamas than many Western governments - seeing it as a Palestinian resistance or liberation group rather than labelling it only as a terrorist organisation. That stance makes some in Israel wary of any Turkish role on the ground in Gaza.
Israeli officials say they will watch closely whether Hamas is being disarmed and Gaza demilitarised, or whether its capabilities are being rebuilt. Some analysts say Turkey could still play a useful role, especially if it helps convince Hamas to return the remains of deceased hostages to Israel as the first phase of the plan requires - which would show goodwill and could ease Israeli concerns.
Observers note Erdogan’s personal ties with Trump and other regional leaders have helped push Turkey into a bigger role in the plan. Turkey also says it has security reasons to want the conflict to end: recent strikes on Hamas figures in Qatar raised fears that similar attacks might be aimed at Hamas interests in Turkey, where some senior members are believed to travel or own property.
Because of those worries, Ankara and pro-government commentators are calling for closer regional security co-operation - even suggesting security pacts to help stabilise the Middle East.
A lot of details still aren’t clear, and officials admit there is no full clarity on how the next stages of the plan will work. Negotiations are ongoing, and many practical questions remain to be settled.
May Allah protect the innocent and guide those working for a just and lasting peace in Gaza, insha'Allah.
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