Last month, Trump succeeded in bringing Israel and Hamas together around a ceasefire agreement, after mobilizing broad international support for a 20-point plan aimed at ending the Gaza war. However, the signed document was limited to what is known as “Phase One,” which includes the initial truce, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, the terms of prisoner and detainee exchange, in addition to facilitating the entry of humanitarian aid, while no formal agreement has yet been reached on the details of “Phase Two” related to the administration of Gaza after the end of the war.
When asked in the Oval Office about when the second phase would begin, Trump avoided specifying a precise timeline, stressing that “the operation is going well.” He added: “There was a problem today with a bomb exploding that led to serious injuries and perhaps deaths, but things are going well. We have peace in the Middle East, and people don’t realize that.” He continued: “The second phase is progressing and will happen very soon,” despite announcing on October 14 that the second phase had already begun.
The plan includes the establishment of a “Peace Council” headed by Trump to oversee the administration of the sector, as well as the creation of an “International Stabilization Force” to undertake the task of securing Gaza. Washington has confirmed that it is able to persuade the countries of the world to participate in these two bodies once a resolution is issued by the Security Council granting them the necessary mandate.
However, more than two weeks after the resolution was issued, the United States has not yet announced the names of the members of the Peace Council or the countries participating in the stabilization force. The Times of Israel quoted Arab diplomats as saying that several countries are still hesitant to send troops for fear of being caught in the crossfire between Israel and Hamas.
Although countries such as Indonesia and Azerbaijan have expressed readiness to participate with forces, they have not announced this officially due to Israel’s refusal to involve Turkey. According to a Middle Eastern diplomat, Turkey’s presence could provide a “guarantee” to many countries, as Hamas would be less likely to target a force that includes Turkish soldiers, given that Ankara is a guarantor of the ceasefire agreement and a supporter of the movement politically.
In contrast, Israel continues to reject any role for Turkey within the international force, due to its relations with Hamas and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s sharp criticism of Jerusalem during the war, and his accusation that Israel committed “genocide” in Gaza.
