Ankara (UNA/Anadolu) – Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said that Israel has a plan to empty the Gaza Strip of its Palestinian inhabitants, and that what will prevent this is the presence of an international force operating in the Strip to ensure the security of both sides and establish calm.
During a televised interview on the local TVNet channel on Saturday, Fidan highlighted Turkey's efforts to stop the genocide in Gaza, establish a ceasefire, and make this ceasefire permanent through a peace agreement.
He stated that all Turkish state institutions, especially President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, have made intensive efforts regarding Gaza.
He added: “Thank God, a ceasefire has been reached, but as we saw today, we are facing a ceasefire that is constantly being violated. The ceasefire environment is fragile.”
He pointed out that President Erdogan has shown his full political will to resolve and support the Palestinian issue, and that Türkiye has taken steps in all international and bilateral efforts related to Gaza.
Fidan explained that details such as the countries and the number of troops that will make up the international stabilization force planned for deployment in Gaza are under consideration, and that discussions are ongoing regarding its location and primary mission in accordance with the UN Security Council resolution.
On November 18, the UN Security Council adopted by a majority a US draft resolution on ending the Israeli war in the Gaza Strip, authorizing the establishment of a temporary international force until the end of 2027.
Fidan stressed that the most important task of the Stabilization Force is to establish a dividing line between Israel and the Palestinians to prevent mutual attacks.
He continued: “We believe that if this does not happen, the force will have difficulty performing its primary mission.”
He pointed out that Israel, as one of the parties, has the right to choose future forces just as the Palestinians do, and that Israel exercises this right through the United States.
Fidan stated that Israel “has reservations towards Türkiye” because it was the country that most criticized and pressured Tel Aviv throughout the war.
He added: “Whether we participate in it or not, our demand is that a force that ends Israel’s occupation and injustice in Gaza, allows humanitarian aid to reach Gaza, and ensures the survival and safety of Palestinians in Gaza, arrives there as soon as possible.”
He stressed the importance of this force “because Israel’s current original plan is to empty Gaza of its inhabitants and cleanse it of Palestinians. What will prevent this is for an international unit (force) to go there and work to ensure the security of both sides and create a state of calm.”
The genocide that Israel began on October 8, 2023 and lasted for two years left more than 70 Palestinian dead and more than 171 wounded. It ended with a ceasefire agreement that came into effect last October, which Israel violated hundreds of times, resulting in the killing and wounding of hundreds of Palestinians.
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