Türkiye Ready to Deploy Troops in Gaza as Foreign Minister Fidan Signals Strong Commitment to Stabilization Efforts

Ankara, The Gulf Observer: Türkiye stands ready to assume responsibility in the Gaza Strip — including the deployment of troops if required — Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Saturday, signaling Ankara’s strongest commitment yet to supporting stabilization efforts in the enclave.

In a live interview with A Haber, Fidan stated that Türkiye is prepared to “shoulder the burden in Gaza” and would “fulfill its responsibilities with a great sense of duty, including sending troops,” describing this as Ankara’s clearest message to the international community on the issue.

Referring to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s recent meeting with US President Donald Trump in September, Fidan said the two leaders discussed key matters affecting bilateral relations and regional security dynamics. Türkiye’s recent “foreign policy performance,” he added, has strengthened its position as a reliable and sought-after partner for international cooperation.

Fidan emphasized that maintaining close coordination with the United States is vital for safeguarding Türkiye’s national interests, underscoring that discussions at the White House focused on developments in Syria, Palestine and Ukraine.

He noted that a UN Security Council draft resolution on Gaza is still under negotiation and continues to evolve. The proposed International Stabilization Force, he said, is one of the two structures envisioned under the phased Trump Peace Plan, with talks centered on shaping its legal mandate and operational mechanism.

According to Fidan, discussions remain ongoing on establishing both a peace commission and the stabilization force for Gaza. He said the US is actively consulting with Türkiye as part of the process, and preliminary steps have already begun, including the creation of a US-coordinated Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) with Israel. Officially inaugurated on October 17, the CMCC is the first international operational platform established by US Central Command in Israel to monitor Gaza developments following the ceasefire agreement.

Fidan described Washington’s involvement — including the mechanism to address obstacles in the ceasefire implementation — as an important sign of commitment and ownership. Türkiye, he stressed, remains dedicated to advancing coordination mechanisms essential for sustaining the ceasefire, with close dialogue continuing between relevant military authorities.

Highlighting Türkiye’s role in the Sharm el-Sheikh talks that helped facilitate the Gaza ceasefire, Fidan noted that Egypt, Qatar and Türkiye jointly contributed to bringing the agreement into effect. The declaration signed by the three countries, he said, is not a traditional guarantor model but reflects an ongoing political commitment to supporting the truce.

Türkiye has also appointed a humanitarian aid coordinator for Gaza and continues intensive efforts to deliver relief, though the volume of aid entering the enclave remains below Israel’s earlier commitments. Discussions are additionally underway on forming a non-political committee to manage Gaza’s day-to-day administration. Fidan noted that Hamas has expressed readiness to transfer governance to a Palestinian-led body.

“Roadmap to end Israeli occupation must be provided”

Fidan reiterated Türkiye’s view that ending the occupation is essential for achieving lasting peace, arguing that armed resistance would otherwise continue under any circumstance.

“What we are saying is this: the issue should not begin with disarming Hamas, but with establishing a mechanism that ends the occupation and reduces and eliminates oppression,” he said. He criticized efforts to frame Hamas in the same manner as ISIS (Daesh), stressing the need to challenge and correct misleading narratives through diplomatic engagement.

Fidan underscored that a viable pathway must be offered to Palestinians: “A roadmap that will end Israel’s occupation and make a two-state solution possible must also be provided.”

He concluded by affirming Türkiye’s continued diplomatic, humanitarian and political engagement aimed at ensuring the ceasefire holds and that a long-term resolution for Gaza is achieved.