Middle East & North Africa
Israel reportedly approves a first multinational force of about 250 in Gaza – and says no to Turkey – sources
Israeli security officials say a first force of about 250 foreign troops is cleared for Gaza, with Indonesia, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Uganda and Albania named as willing, while Turkey is shut out.
The Israeli government has reportedly given the United States the green light for a first multinational force of about 250 foreign troops in the Gaza Strip, while closing the door to any Turkish participation. Meanwhile Donald Trump is pressing Benjamin Netanyahu to move the Gaza plan forward now that Israel’s elections are over.
The figure of 250 was given by Israeli security officials to the Walla news site. Indonesia, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Uganda and Albania are named as willing to send forces. Kazakhstan has offered medical and administrative support and Kosovo help with security and policing duties. Foreign officers, accompanied by American troops, have been seen near the Strip’s border over the past two weeks.
Why Israel does not want Erdoğan
One reason for the delay is pressure from Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Washington to let Turkey take part in operations in Gaza. Officials in Jerusalem and in the Israeli security establishment object strongly, citing Ankara’s policy toward Israel, the Turkish president’s statements and the fact that Turkey hosts Hamas’s headquarters. Israeli assessments attribute to that Hamas headquarters in Turkey the direction of an attack near Hebron more than two weeks ago in which two Israeli soldiers were killed. The disagreement is not new: already in October 2025 the US accepted Mr Netanyahu’s request for no Turkish force in Gaza.
The Israeli security establishment is also worried about how fast a force could move in, especially after the Republican losses in the midterm elections. “It is not unrealistic for the Gaza Division and Southern Command to wake up one day and find a foreign multinational force with more soldiers than the division has,” one security official said.
The US military is moving vehicles and equipment to a base near the border, in the sector of the Gaza Division’s Southern Brigade. It is a former Israeli camp handed over to the US, with new guard towers, lighting, surveillance systems and armed American guards around the clock. The first force is expected to guard the area around the planned “Emirati city without terrorism” on the ruins of part of Rafah, where tens of thousands of Palestinians would be relocated after strict security screening.
Sources who spoke to Axios say that in a call on Thursday, November 5, requested by Mr Netanyahu, Mr Trump asked him to take steps to implement the plan. Marco Rubio, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff took part in the call, and the war with Iran was also discussed. The plan, which provides for the disarmament of Hamas, the demilitarization of Gaza, a technocratic Palestinian government and an International Stabilization Force, had been frozen because of the October 27 election. The White House wants to move ahead whoever forms the government, with President Isaac Herzog having given Gadi Eisenkot the first mandate. Mr Netanyahu remains doubtful that Hamas will ever disarm.
