Saudi Crown Prince is pushing for Türkiye’s join the Gaza settlement issue
The expected meeting next week between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and US President Donald Trump may change the balance of power surrounding the future of the Gaza Strip and give Türkiye a significant advantage.
It’s no secret that Türkiye is seeking to establish its presence in the Gaza Strip, but Israel is so far standing up to it.
Ankara hopes that Trump, who is increasingly frustrated by the stalemate in the peace plan, will pressure Israel to agree to a Turkish military presence in Gaza, under the pretext of a peacekeeping force.
A Saudi source reportedly stated that Riyadh holds Israel responsible for the stalemate, and believes that the Turkish presence alone can keep Hamas under control, as for a simple reason which is that the fact Hamas won’t target Turkish forces on the ground in Gaza.
It’s estimated that Trump may pressure Israel to agree to a “mock demobilization”: Hamas will change its uniform, the Turks will act as a “peacekeeping” force, and Ankara will strengthen its status as a champion of the Muslim world.
Meanwhile, the UAE, which distanced itself from Trump’s plan earlier this week, is watching developments with concern.
The UAE warning that Türkiye or Qatar cannot be trusted with regard to Gaza.
There is a deep gap between the Emirati and Saudi approaches: While Abu Dhabi seeks a real solution that prevents a return to the never-ending cycles of war, Riyadh is primarily concerned with US silence and gestures.
There is a deep division within Saudi Arabia itself: the older generation, which reveres the Palestinian cause, is repeatedly clashing with bin Salman’s ambition to accelerate the pace of modernization and move quickly toward a new agenda.
Ultimately, regional sources confirm that much is at stake in the upcoming meeting, as its outcome could affect not only the future of the Gaza Strip, but also the balance of power in the Middle East as a whole.
Meanwhile the regional mediators, led by Türkiye and Qatar, are exerting great pressure to include Ankara in an international force to stabilize the Gaza Strip.
On the other hand, Israel is taking a cautious approach: not outright rejection of the move, but rather a tentative readiness to consider it, provided that clear political conditions are set for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
According to political sources, the Israeli formula allows for only limited flexibility.
The lifting of the Veto on Ankara will only be possible if there is a tangible change on Türkiye’s part, including a public clarification or correction of anti-Israel statements, as well as a clear announcement of a change in the course of relations with Türkiye.
It will soon become clear whether this Israeli compromise is acceptable, not only from the point of view of US President Donald Trump, but also from Ankara’s point of view.
