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Israeli officials are reconsidering their objection to Türkiye's participation in the Gaza stabilization force, with some believing Ankara should be allowed to join because many countries are reluctant to send soldiers, Israeli public broadcaster Kan News reported Thursday.
Israeli sources believe that permission for Türkiye's participation should be granted due to the lack of response from countries to send troops to the International Stabilization Force in Gaza.
Israeli officials believe Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will face a dilemma during his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump regarding Turkish presence in Gaza, the report said.
Netanyahu is expected to depart for the United States on Saturday night for a meeting with Trump at his Florida resort, with a lengthy list of issues requiring decisions.
"Gaza is at the heart of this meeting," the report said. Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff "wants to announce the transition to the second phase very soon."
"The problem is, simply put, that there really isn't one. There is no multinational force, there is no real plan for disarming Hamas, and there is no guarantee from the agreement that all the hostages, living and dead, will return," Kan News reported.
The report noted that Türkiye is signaling readiness for "confidence-building" steps for the U.S. administration in order to receive F-35 aircraft from the United States.
Among these, it is claimed that the S-400 missile defense system will be returned to Russian hands.
"If this does happen, it may be a worrying development in Israeli eyes, as there is a chance that this advanced air defense system will reach Iran," the report said.
The report said matters in Lebanon are also "not entirely clear." At the last meeting in Naqoura, which included the involvement of the deputy National Security Council head, discussions again covered the plan for demilitarizing southern Lebanon from Hezbollah, strengthening the Lebanese army, and the possibility of economic cooperation between the countries.
Another issue Netanyahu will want to raise is Iran. According to professional sources within the security establishment, Iran is accelerating its ballistic missile rehabilitation program.
"This means mainly that Israel and the United States, at least according to senior officials in Jerusalem, need to work together to prevent this threat from continuing to grow," the report said.
The potential reconsideration marks a shift from Israel's previously categorical opposition to Turkish involvement.
Earlier this week, Israeli Channel 14 reported that a senior Israeli political source declared Turkish participation a "red line," stating: "The Turks will not be part of the international force in Gaza, not armed soldiers and not unarmed ones. This is out of the question. Period."
However, the Kan News report suggests that the lack of international willingness to contribute troops may be forcing a reassessment.
"In Ankara, officials believe Trump could pressure Netanyahu to allow Türkiye's participation in the international force to be sent to Gaza," the report said.
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