Turkey excluded as US seeks commitments for int'l Gaza security force in Qatar forum

The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) hosted a conference in Qatar this week to discuss plans for the International Stabilization Force (ISF) for Gaza, inviting dozens of countries to participate, with the notable exception of Turkey and Israel. 

According to a Kan News report, IDF Maj.-Gen. Yaki Dolf will present the Israeli position regarding its security interests and concerns via a video conference call, but no Israeli officials will attend the forum in person. 

The exclusion of Turkey is apparently due to Israeli concerns regarding the presence of Turkish troops. The United States has repeatedly said that Israel would have the ability to veto the participation of nations in the ISF. 

Turkey’s absence from the forum suggests that the U.S. has accepted Israel’s objections regarding the country’s participation, while reports in Israeli media said that both Turkey and Qatar continue to lobby the U.S. regarding the countries' participation in the ISF. 

“The Turks are still pressing the US administration to be involved. They haven't given up,” one regional diplomat told The Jerusalem Post. 

The forum will be attended by nations that have expressed an interest in contributing troops to the ISF, including both regional countries and European and Western nations.

According to a report in The Times of Israel, more than 45 countries are expected to attend, including Egypt, Indonesia, Qatar, Jordan, the UAE, Cyprus, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Greece, Saudi Arabia, and European nations, including Italy, France, the United Kingdom, Bosnia, Finland, Kosovo, and Bulgaria. Other news outlets have reported differing figures of the total number of countries involved. 

A European official told The Times of Israel that the participating countries were asked to confirm their interest in joining the ISF and next steps for building the force, including a meeting of military chiefs sometime in January. 

The forum attendees also discussed logistical issues, such as where the force could be based, its command structure, the types of units, and funding for the force. Reports in international media indicated that most nations involved remain hesitant about committing their own troops over fears that the ISF would be involved in direct confrontation with Hamas, and have expressed caution about deploying the force in areas where Hamas has effective control. 

Many unresolved questions remain about the ISF, including how the force will coordinate with the Israeli military on security issues, the relationship of the ISF to a future Palestinian administration and police force in Gaza, and the issuing of weapons in the hands of Hamas and the other Palestinian factions. 

Israeli officials continue to view the establishment of the ISF with significant skepticism, as most nations willing to participate in the force also reject the peace-enforcing role described in the Gaza peace plan proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump. According to the 20-point plan, the ISF was to be tasked with disarming Hamas and handling security in the Gaza Strip until the establishment of a Palestinian administration in the enclave.

Over the past few weeks, Hamas has hardened its position regarding disarmament and rejected the deployment of an “occupying” international force within the Strip.

Israel has already communicated its position that another UN-style peacekeeping force, similar to UNIFIL in Lebanon, would be undesirable and could potentially interfere with the IDF’s ability to carry out preventive security measures.

The IDF has shared evidence over the years showing that UNIFIL troops cooperated with Hezbollah forces in southern Lebanon, despite the UN force’s mandate being to disarm the southern Lebanon region. The Israeli government does not want to see the establishment of an international force that would limit the ability to guarantee its security along the southern border.