Netanyahu Rejects Idea of Turkish Forces in Gaza

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has signaled his opposition to the idea of deploying Turkish security forces in the Gaza Strip as part of a U.S.-backed ceasefire monitoring mission.
 Speaking in Jerusalem alongside U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Netanyahu said they discussed “the day after” for Gaza — specifically who would ensure security in the territory devastated by two years of war.

Post-Ceasefire Planning

The second phase of President Trump’s Gaza Ceasefire Plan calls for the disarmament of Hamas and the creation of an internationally supervised Palestinian committee to govern Gaza, supported by a multinational force and vetted Palestinian police.
 Turkey, which helped persuade Hamas to accept the plan, has expressed willingness to participate in the international monitoring mission, saying its troops could serve in either a military or civilian capacity if required.

Vance said the process was “going better than expected,” adding, “It’s not easy, but I am optimistic that the ceasefire will hold and that we can build a better future for the entire Middle East.”

Debate Over Turkey’s Role

When asked about Turkish involvement, Netanyahu replied: “I have very strong opinions about that. Want to guess what they are?”
 Turkey’s Foreign Ministry declined to comment, while its Defense Ministry also refrained from issuing a statement.
 Vance, however, said there could be a “constructive role” for Turkey, emphasizing that Washington would not impose any foreign military presence that Israel opposed.

Relations between Israel and Turkey, both once close partners, reached new lows during the Gaza war as President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan harshly criticized Israel’s military operations.

Fragile Ceasefire and Situation in Gaza

The 12-day-old ceasefire remains fragile. Hamas has so far released 15 of the 28 bodies of hostages taken during the October 7, 2023, attacks, saying the remaining bodies are buried under rubble.
 Israeli forces confirmed that two soldiers were killed over the weekend in southern Gaza.
 The Gaza Health Ministry reported at least 88 Palestinians killed since the ceasefire began, while Israel claims the dead include armed militants.

Gazan authorities said they buried 54 unidentified bodies handed over by Israel, while 30 more arrived at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. Israel stated that those bodies belonged to militants involved in the 2023 attacks.

Diplomatic Visits and Ongoing Efforts

Vice President Vance’s visit follows a series of high-level U.S. delegations aiming to maintain the ceasefire’s momentum.
 U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and presidential envoy Jared Kushner are expected to arrive in Israel later this week for further discussions.

Background

The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants killed about 1,200 people in southern Israel and took 251 hostages. Since then, Israeli attacks on Gaza have killed more than 68,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The United Nations considers these figures credible.

Source: www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/netanyahu-hints-opposition-any-turkish-forces-gaza-2025-10-22