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Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said Azerbaijan does not foresee sending troops to a proposed Gaza stability force that has been suggested to secure the territory once fighting ends and humanitarian access expands.
In an interview with Azerbaijani television outlets released late Monday, Aliyev said Baku has received inquiries about possible participation in stabilization operations in Gaza but stressed that the mandate and scope of any such force remain unclear.
“Regarding the situation in the Gaza Strip, in our view, it remains unclear who will issue the mandate and what its nature will be,” Aliyev said, adding that Azerbaijan has never considered taking part in “peace enforcement” missions.
Recalling Azerbaijan’s past participation in peacekeeping missions in Iraq, Kosovo and Afghanistan, Aliyev said Azerbaijani forces have never been involved in combat operations.
“We have never participated in combat operations, and I would not consider participating in combat operations outside of Azerbaijan at all,” he said.
Aliyev emphasized that Azerbaijani lives would not be put at risk in such a mission.
“We have no intention of risking the lives and health of Azerbaijanis for the sake of others,” he said.
Aliyev said Azerbaijan has consistently supported Palestine diplomatically but noted that Baku was largely on its own during periods of conflict.
“No one defended us. Despite all my respect and sharing in their suffering, Palestine did not really defend us either,” he said.
He recalled that within the framework of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), member states, including Palestine, adopted decisions supporting Azerbaijan, for which he expressed gratitude.
Azerbaijan has backed the establishment of a Palestinian state at the United Nations, within the Non-Aligned Movement and the OIC, Aliyev said, noting that the Palestinian Embassy in Baku operates with Azerbaijan’s financial support.
“My position has always been as follows: Arab countries should resolve the issues of Arab states themselves,” he added.
Aliyev also said Azerbaijan was surprised by remarks last year by U.S. Representative to the United Nations Mike Waltz, suggesting that Azerbaijan had agreed to join a proposed International Stabilization Force in Gaza.
Aliyev said Baku did not give consent and conveyed its objections to Washington through diplomatic channels.
“We informed the U.S. administration that such false statements are unacceptable and create a false impression,” he said.
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Aliyev said Azerbaijan submitted a questionnaire of more than 20 questions to the U.S. side and that until those questions are answered, no participation in any mission is being considered.
The proposed International Stabilization Force is outlined in a 20-point ceasefire plan put forward by U.S. President Donald Trump. The plan envisions a multinational force overseeing security and reconstruction in the Gaza Strip following Israel’s two-year assault.
Waltz said in December that an international force involving countries such as Indonesia and Azerbaijan would be preferable to the return of Israeli troops or the deployment of U.S. forces.
Aliyev reiterated that Azerbaijan has not committed to such a role and would not do so without a clearly defined mandate and mission.
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