Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Monday that only countries “impartial” toward Israel should be allowed to contribute troops to a proposed international force for post-war Gaza—effectively ruling out Turkey.
Gideon Saar (L) and Peter Szijjarto © X
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Monday that only countries “impartial” toward Israel should be allowed to contribute troops to a proposed international force for post-war Gaza—effectively ruling out Turkey.
Speaking alongside Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto in Budapest, Saar stated: “Countries willing to send armed forces should at least not be hostile to Israel.” He accused Turkey, under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, of adopting a hostile stance, citing diplomatic and economic actions against Israel.
The idea of a multinational force, largely composed of Arab and Muslim troops, comes from a U.S.-backed ceasefire plan originally proposed by former President Donald Trump. Turkey has expressed interest in joining, but Israel strongly objects.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed this position on Sunday, asserting Israel's right to veto any country’s participation in the force, particularly those like Turkey with ties to Hamas.
Montenegro temporarily suspended a visa-free regime for Turkish nationals on Monday following a weekend of violence triggered by the stabbing of a Montenegrin man in the capital Podgorica by a group of Turks.
U.S. envoy Morgan Ortagus is expected in Beirut on Monday for talks with Lebanese officials on disarming militant group Hezbollah, sources familiar with her visit said, amid fears in Lebanon that Israel could launch a renewed air war on the group.
Pope Leo will visit eight towns and cities in Turkey and Lebanon later this year, the Vatican said on Monday, his first trip outside Italy as pontiff, and he is expected to make appeals for peace across the region.
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