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Turkish President Tayyip Recep Erdogan said on Friday that the United States and other countries must do more to force Israel to stop violating the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip.
He said they should perhaps even use sanctions or stop arms sales to Israel. Turkey, a NATO member and one of the most vocal critics of Israel's war in Gaza, has joined the ceasefire talks as a mediator, having previously been involved mostly indirectly. Its increased role came after a meeting last month between Erdogan and US President Donald Trump at the White House.
“As Turkey, we are doing everything we can to ensure the ceasefire. Hamas is respecting the ceasefire and is even openly expressing its commitment to it. Meanwhile, Israel continues to violate the ceasefire,” Erdogan told reporters. “The international community, especially the United States, must do more to ensure that Israel fully implements the ceasefire and the agreement. Israel must be forced to keep its promises through sanctions and a ban on arms sales,” he said, according to a statement from his office on Friday.
Ankara has said it will join a "task force" to monitor the implementation of the ceasefire, and that its armed forces can serve in military or civilian capacities as needed. It has also expressed readiness to help rebuild the enclave. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signaled on Wednesday that Israel opposes any role for Turkish forces in the Gaza Strip.
Asked about Netanyahu's comments, Erdogan refrained from his usual criticism of the Israeli leader and appeared to soften his previous commitment to an active role on the ground in Gaza, saying that talks on the issue were still ongoing.
"Negotiations on the task force that will work in Gaza are still ongoing. Its modalities are not yet clear. Since this is a multidimensional issue, comprehensive negotiations are underway. We are ready to offer Gaza any kind of assistance in this regard ," he said.
Relations between the two former allies, Israel and Turkey, have deteriorated significantly during the Gaza war, as Ankara accuses Netanyahu's government of "genocide," an accusation that Israel has consistently denied.
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