Erdogan urges US to push Israel on ceasefire as Gaza diplomacy builds

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said the United States and others must do more to push Israel to stop violating the Gaza ceasefire agreement, including the possible use of sanctions or halting arms sales.

Türkiye, one of the most vocal critics of Israel's attacks on Gaza, has joined the ceasefire negotiations as a mediator after largely indirect involvement. Its increased role followed a meeting last month between Erdogan and US President Donald Trump at the White House.

"As Türkiye, we are doing our utmost for the ceasefire to be secured. The Hamas side is abiding by the ceasefire. In fact, it is openly stating its commitment to this. Israel, meanwhile, is continuing to violate the ceasefire," Erdogan said on his return flight from a regional Gulf tour.

"The international community, namely the United States, must do more to ensure Israel's full compliance to the ceasefire and agreement. Israel must be forced to keep its promises via sanctions, halting of arms sales."

Ankara has said that it would join a "task force" to oversee the implementation of the ceasefire, that its armed forces could serve in a military or civilian capacity as needed, and that it would play an active role in the reconstruction of the enclave.

Rubio in Israel

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, on a visit to Israel aimed at shoring up the ceasefire, said on Friday that a planned international security force for Gaza would have to be made up of "countries that Israel's comfortable with," but declined to comment specifically on Türkiye's involvement.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hinted that he would be opposed to any role for Turkish security forces in the Gaza Strip.

Asked about Netanyahu's comments, Erdogan refrained from his usual criticism of the Israeli leader and appeared to soften his earlier commitment to taking a role on the field in Gaza.

"Talks are continuing on the task force that will work in Gaza. The modalities of this are not yet clear. As this is a multi-faceted issue, there are comprehensive negotiations. We are ready to provide Gaza any form of support on this issue," Erdogan said.

He also reiterated a previous call for Gulf countries to take action now on financing efforts to rebuild Gaza, saying nobody could single-handedly complete this task.

Around 200 US troops are working with the Israeli military and delegations from other countries at the center in southern Israel, planning the stabilization and reconstruction of Gaza. The US is seeking support from other allies, especially Gulf Arab nations, to create an international stabilization force to be deployed and train a Palestinian force.

Chinese peace demands

China reiterated its desire for peace during Thursday's UN Security Council debate on Gaza.  

Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the UN, said: "The current ceasefire should become the basis for a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire. Yet disturbingly, violations of the agreement are still taking place, leading to casualties of innocent civilians. 

"China calls upon all parties concerned to fully abide by the requirements of the ceasefire agreement, work to achieve a truly comprehensive and lasting ceasefire, and ensure that Gaza will regain security and stability."

European diplomatic scramble

Leaders in Europe continue to battle for a more active role in Gaza and the occupied West Bank after being sidelined from the US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. They have since scrambled to join the diplomacy effort currently reshaping the region.

At Thursday's summit in Brussels largely focused on Ukraine and Russia, EU heads of state discussed the shaky truce and pledged EU support for stability. 

"It is important that Europe not only watches but plays an active role," said Luc Frieden, the prime minister of Luxembourg. "Gaza is not over; peace is not yet permanent."

Relations between the bloc and Israel have become increasingly strained. In the run-up to the ceasefire, Netanyahu said earlier this month that "Europe has essentially become irrelevant and displayed enormous weakness."

Humanitarian support

Leaders from Ireland to the Netherlands say that with continuing violence in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, keeping on the table sanctions of Israeli cabinet ministers and settlements and the partial suspension of a trade deal gives the EU leverage on Israel to curtail military action.

The EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas has said the EU should play a role in Gaza and not just pay to support stability and eventually reconstruction.

At the summit's conclusion, EU leaders issued a pledge to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, potentially via a maritime route from Cyprus. They also suggested a West Bank police support program could be extended to Gaza to bolster the stabilization force called for in the current 20-point ceasefire plan.

The EU has sought membership in the plan's "Board of Peace" transitional oversight body, Dubravka Šuica, European Commissioner for the Mediterranean, said this week.