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- Turkey's bid to shape Gaza's future faces Arab resistance - report
Turkey's bid to shape Gaza's future faces Arab resistance - report
Turkey made repeated attempts during the initial two months of the Gaza war to orchestrate a plan for joint forces deployment in Gaza immediately following the war
Amid the ongoing war in Gaza, Turkey's efforts to exert influence and propose security arrangements involving the deployment of joint forces have faced significant resistance from Arab countries.
According to reports from Israeli public broadcaster Reshet Bet radio, Turkey made repeated attempts during the initial two months of the Gaza war to orchestrate a plan for joint forces deployment in Gaza immediately following the war.
The proposed plan was supposed to be presented to the United States and Israel for consideration but Arab nations, including Egypt, rebuffed these initiatives.
At the outset of the conflict, Arab nations staunchly rejected any suggestion of stationing their forces in Gaza. But more recently, Arab countries, led by Egypt, have put forward proposals to station their forces not only in Gaza but also in the West Bank as part of a broader two-state solution to the Palestinian issue.
Observers suggest that Turkey's efforts to assert itself as a significant player in the Gaza conflict, particularly in dealings with the United States, have been met with skepticism from Arab nations.
The recent meeting between Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh and Turkish President Erdogan painted a picture of close ties between the two sides, at the same time as reports emerged that Hamas was looking to relocate its leadership out of Qatar. In addition, Qatar has recently threatened that it is reassessing its role as mediator between Israel and Hamas, after months of hosting talks in Doha.
Turkey, a NATO member, has long portrayed itself as a defender of the Palestinian cause, though President Erdogan came under local criticism for seemingly not doing enough to support the people of Gaza. Turkey announced it would cut its exports to Israel, and a flotilla carrying humanitarian aid is preparing to set sail, aimed at breaking the Israel-Egypt blockade on Gaza.