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A senior Turkish official flatly stated that a Turkish-Israeli trade deal is "not on the table," contradicting U.S. Ambassador Tom Barrack's claim of an imminent agreement, as Israel simultaneously vetoed the deployment of Turkish security forces in Gaza.
"There is no such deal on the table," a senior Turkish official told Israeli media outlet i24NEWS after Barrack said that "in not too long of a time you'll see a trade deal between Türkiye and Israel."
Israeli officials also raised eyebrows at the ambassador's statement, saying, "It is completely unclear what this is based on," particularly in light of the Israeli veto on the entry of Turkish forces into Gaza.
According to the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation Kan, high-ranking Israeli officials have made clear that Tel Aviv is strongly opposed to the deployment of Turkish security forces in the Gaza Strip.
"High-ranking Israeli officials clarified that Tel Aviv is strongly opposed to the deployment of Turkish security forces in the Gaza Strip," according to the Israeli report.
Senior Israeli officials told Kan that Israel has imposed a veto on the deployment of these forces in the strip, noting, "Israel has imposed a veto on the deployment of these forces in the strip," the officials stated.
The officials added that U.S. President Donald Trump still insists on giving Türkiye a role in the Gaza Strip. According to the Israeli officials, in the Trump administration, which insists on giving Türkiye a role the day after (ceasefire), alternatives are now being examined.
"In light of this, two options are now being examined: the deployment of unarmed forces or the integration of Türkiye in the reconstruction of the strip," Israeli officials stated.
These two specific alternatives represent potential compromises as the Trump administration continues to push for Turkish involvement despite Israeli objections to military deployment.
Speaking at the 21st International Institute for Strategic Studies Manama Dialogue, U.S. Ambassador Tom Barrack said, "The ceasefire in Gaza would not have happened without Türkiye," emphasizing Ankara's critical role in securing the agreement.
Barrack noted that U.S. President Donald Trump acknowledged President Recep Tayyip Erdogan multiple times on stage for his role in securing the ceasefire agreement. "President Donald Trump acknowledged President Recep Tayyip Erdogan four times on stage for his role in securing the agreement," Barrack stated.
Barrack explained Türkiye's unique diplomatic advantage in the negotiations. "Türkiye's unique relationship with Hamas, which Ankara does not designate as a terrorist organization, allowed it to push final holdouts toward ceasefire," he said.
This unique relationship provided Ankara with leverage that other countries do not possess in negotiations with Hamas.
Despite current tensions over the Gaza deployment, Barrack predicted broader regional alignment between Türkiye and Israel.
"Türkiye and Israel will not be at war with each other," Barrack said. "In my opinion, it's not going to happen. And you're going to get alignment from the Caspian Sea to the Mediterranean," he predicted.
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