Israel’s PM says no Turkish or Qatari soldiers will be in Gaza, objecting to a US-backed advisory board’s composition as part of the Trump peace plan.
JERUSALEM: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared there will be no place for Turkish or Qatari soldiers in a post-war Gaza security force.
He reiterated Israel’s objection to the composition of a US-backed advisory panel for the Palestinian territory on Monday.
The statements refer to elements of US President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan to end the war, which includes a security force and advisory boards.
“In the Gaza Strip, we are on the eve of phase two of the Trump plan,” Netanyahu told parliament.
“Phase two means one simple thing: Hamas will be disarmed and Gaza will be demilitarised.”
“There will be no Turkish or Qatari soldiers in the Gaza Strip,” he added.
His comment appeared to reference the International Stabilisation Force (ISF) outlined under the Trump plan.
The force’s composition is undetermined, but it will provide security and train a new police force to succeed Hamas.
Trump named US Major General Jasper Jeffers to head the ISF in Gaza on Friday.
Netanyahu also stated a disagreement with the United States over an advisory council.
“We have a certain disagreement with our friends in the United States regarding the composition of the advisory council that will accompany the processes in Gaza,” he said.
Netanyahu’s office objected on Saturday to the “Gaza executive board”, which includes Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Qatari diplomat Ali Al-Thawadi.
“The Prime Minister has instructed the Foreign Affairs Minister to contact the US Secretary of State on this matter,” a statement said.
Israel has previously objected strongly to any Turkish role in post-war Gaza, with relations deteriorating since the war began in October 2023.
The separate “Board of Peace”, chaired by Trump, and a Palestinian technocratic committee are also part of the plan.
The Palestinian committee held its initial meetings in Cairo last week.
