Is an international stabilisation force for Gaza closer after the Istanbul talks?

Foreign ministers from seven Arab and Muslim-majority states met in Turkiye’s largest city, Istanbul, to explore whether they can form an international stabilisation force for Gaza and to discuss the fragile ceasefire in the territory.

One aim of Monday’s talks was to move the countries closer to establishing a force that could help uphold the ceasefire that came into effect on October 10, but has been unstable since then.

During the period since the truce began, Israel has repeatedly breached the agreement, including a bout of deadly strikes last week that killed more than 100 people — among them 46 children — before the parties returned to the pause. In total, at least 236 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed since the ceasefire started.

Ministers from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Pakistan and Indonesia attended the Istanbul meeting alongside their Turkish counterpart; some of those countries could potentially contribute troops to a stabilisation force.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told reporters after the meeting that talks were continuing on the proposed international force for Gaza, an element that is also part of US President Donald Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace plan.

The proposed body — intended to manage security inside the Gaza Strip — has not yet been formed and its precise responsibilities have not been published.

Fidan said the participating states would "decide, based on the contents of this definition, whether to send soldiers or not," signalling that troop contributions depend on a clear mandate.

Several countries at Monday’s meeting have previously said a United Nations Security Council resolution should authorise any stabilisation force, and potential contributors insist its mandate be tightly defined.

Earlier, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described a late-September meeting with President Trump on the topic as "fruitful".

But a deep trust deficit remains between the Arab and Muslim states involved and Israel, largely because of Israel’s behaviour since the ceasefire came into force and its continued strikes on Gaza.

So far Israel has largely failed to honour parts of the ceasefire agreement: in addition to those killed, hundreds more were wounded; Palestinians in Gaza have been prevented from rebuilding homes; and the agreed number of humanitarian aid trucks has not been allowed into the besieged territory.

Israel counters that Hamas has not returned the bodies of dead captives quickly enough. Hamas says recovering bodies is hampered by the vast rubble from Israeli attacks and by the destruction of most heavy machinery needed for searches — equipment that Israel has blocked from entering the Strip since the ceasefire.

Fidan accused Israel of making excuses to end the truce and said attendees shared the view that Israel was not meeting its obligations. He also urged Israel to stop routine ceasefire violations and to permit humanitarian access to Gaza — another key topic at the meeting.

Potential contributors worry they are being asked to deploy forces into Gaza while Israel’s commitment to the ceasefire is uncertain. That, they fear, could put international soldiers at risk if they are expected to police security on the ground while Israeli strikes continue.

Fidan acknowledged there remain major differences between Hamas and Israel that may not be solvable quickly, but said Turkiye is continuing to work for a peaceful outcome.

Erdogan has strongly condemned what he calls repeated Israeli violations of the truce. "We all see that Israel’s record on this matter is very poor," Turkiye’s president said, telling the Turkish state news agency Anadolu that the administration was responsible for the massacre of more than 200 people since the ceasefire agreement and continued occupation and attacks in the West Bank.

"We cannot allow the annexation of the [occupied] West Bank, the changing of Jerusalem’s status, or attempts to damage the sanctity of the Al-Aqsa Mosque," he added.

Turkiye was the first Muslim-majority country to recognise Israel in 1949, but ties have plunged to a historic low amid the Gaza war, which the article reports has seen nearly 69,000 Palestinians killed.

Analysts quoted in reporting say Israel may be trying to build support for a possible future move against Turkiye. Turkiye has played a central role in ceasefire diplomacy by urging Hamas to accept President Trump’s peace plan and has offered to participate in any international stabilisation force.

However, Israeli leaders — including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Saar — have been firm that Israel would not accept a Turkish presence inside Gaza.