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Türkiye is prepared to “do whatever it takes” to support peace efforts regarding Gaza, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Saturday during the 23rd edition of the Doha Forum in Qatar’s capital.
When asked whether Ankara was considering sending troops to Gaza, Fidan said discussions are underway about forming an International Stabilization Force (ISF) for the war-torn enclave. He noted that deliberations continue on how such a force would be deployed, what its mission would entail, and under what rules it would operate.
Fidan called for a “realistic” approach when defining the mission’s objectives, emphasizing that the first priority should be separating Palestinians and Israelis along the border. “This should be our main objective. Then, we can address the other remaining issues,” he said.
The Gaza ceasefire agreement, brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump, took effect on Oct. 10. The 20-point plan envisions Israel’s phased withdrawal, the release of hostages and prisoners, the reconstruction of Gaza, and the formation of a new governing body without Hamas.
A key component of the deal is the ISF, a multinational, non-combat force tasked with securing humanitarian corridors and supporting reconstruction efforts.
For the ISF to be effective, Fidan added, a trained police force and local administrative structures must be established to support peacebuilding. While it remains unclear which countries will contribute to the force, he said the process would gradually take shape once deployment begins.
Speaking separately to the Turkish news agency Anadolu on the sidelines of the forum, Fidan said that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the entire government remain “highly sensitive” about Gaza.
“As a requirement of this sensitivity, we are implementing very concrete and practical steps,” he said.
He highlighted Türkiye’s “enormous effort on the humanitarian and diplomatic front” to stop the war and implement a peace plan, while warning that “Israel’s intentions are equally negative.”
“This process needs to be managed somehow,” Fidan said, noting that Türkiye continues to work closely with regional partners as well as U.S. and European counterparts to ensure that a Gaza peace plan is implemented “as soon as possible” to end the ongoing humanitarian tragedy.
Fidan also reflected on Türkiye’s long-standing open-door policy toward Syrian refugees, saying it was rooted in humanitarian principles despite its domestic costs.
“When the crisis in Syria first began, we adopted such a policy. As a result, a large number of Syrian refugees fled the war and arrived at our border gates. This policy came at a cost domestically, but ultimately it served humanitarian goals,” he said.
He stressed that international cooperation is essential to ensure lasting stability in Syria, noting that Türkiye has “learned difficult lessons” through mediation efforts in regional crises.
On the Russia-Ukraine war, Fidan said Europe needs “more creative, more resilient, and more durable solutions” in the absence of strong U.S. involvement.
“I think the only viable way to finish this war is to engage faithfully and forcefully in peace talks,” he said. “Europe has every reason not to trust Russia—and Russia has every reason not to trust anyone else, but negotiations must continue.”
He also said the mediation and peacebuilding efforts led by U.S. President Donald Trump align with Türkiye’s interests, reiterating Ankara’s commitment to achieving ceasefires in both Ukraine and Gaza.
The Doha Forum, one of the leading international platforms for dialogue on global and regional issues, is being held this year under the theme “Justice in Action: Beyond Promises to Progress.”
Participants include heads of state and government, ministers, senior officials, scholars, and experts from over 150 countries.
The two-day event brings together global leaders, including Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa, Fidan, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares, President and CEO of the World Economic Forum Borge Brende, former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and former Microsoft CEO Bill Gates.
Key sessions this year address “The Gaza Reckoning: Reassessing Global Responsibilities and Pathways to Peace,” “Gulf–EU Relations in the Age of Strategic Isolation,” “AI as a Double-Edged Sword: Strategies for Responsible Use in the Military Domain,” and “U.S.–China Relations: Navigating the Risks and Opportunities of a Changing Global Order.”
The 2025 forum hosts over 6,000 participants, with Turkish news agency Anadolu serving as a global communication partner and the Antalya Diplomacy Forum as a content partner.
The last edition of the forum, held in December 2024 under the theme “The Innovation Imperative,” welcomed over 5,000 attendees, including over 350 speakers.
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