Turkey Offers Military Support For Gaza Under International Mission
By Osama Ali
(Albawaba) -- According to Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Turkey is ready to send troops to the Gaza Strip as part of an international stabilization force that has been suggested.
After the first meeting of the "Board of Peace" in Washington, Fidan said that Ankara is ready to send troops if everyone involved agrees to the creation of such a force. He said that the meeting was an important step toward rebuilding Gaza and getting local government agencies back up and running.
Fidan stressed that Turkey is ready to give full support, which includes humanitarian aid, help with governance, and security contributions. He also said that Turkey would train a local police force in Gaza to help keep the peace, and that work on this plan would start soon.
Ongoing Humanitarian Issues
Fidan talked about Turkey's support and how hard things are in Gaza, calling the humanitarian situation "fragile." He said that Israel was still breaking the ceasefire agreement that went into effect in October with the help of other countries.
Gaza health officials say that hundreds of alleged violations have led to a lot of deaths since the ceasefire began. Reports also say that there are still limits on the entry of fuel and humanitarian supplies. For example, Israel is reportedly against the delivery of 20,000 Turkish housing units because they are worried about the building materials.
Rebuilding and keeping the region stable
The diplomatic efforts are part of a larger conversation around the world about rebuilding Gaza and finding ways to make sure it stays stable in the long term. Turkish officials said they might get involved as part of a larger effort to improve security and help people in need in the region.
The events come after two years of intense fighting in Gaza that caused a lot of damage and killed a lot of civilians. Turkey's offer to take part in a stabilization mission could mean that more countries will get involved in the area, but only if the parties involved can agree on a political solution.