Inclusion of Turkey inside the executive committee wey go manage Gaza after war turn unexpected diplomatic breakthrough for Ankara, and e turn serious annoyance for Tel Aviv.
Decision wey Donald Trump administration make to appoint Turkey foreign minister Hakan Fidan as member of the Executive Council for Gaza, and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to the Peace Council, bring sharp criticism from Israeli leadership.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu no hide him vex: he talk say the committee "no bin agree with Israel and e dey contradict Israel policy".
American officials wey talk to Israeli channel N12 clear: "We no tell Netanyahu beforehand the composition of the executive committee. E no expect say Turkey and Qatar people go dey there."
That sentence capture the gist of the geopolitical shift. Turkey, wey for the last 27 months dey among the harshest critics of Israel military operation for Gaza, now get seat for the table wey go decide the future of the enclave.
President Erdoğan don many times compare Israel actions to genocide, Turkey cut trade with the Jewish state and dey consult with Hamas political leadership. Now Ankara get the role as one of the key players for recovery and governance of Gaza.
For the Palestinian side, Turkey presence for the executive structures mean dem gain strong and principled ally on the international stage. This one important especially because other committee members — Egypt, the UAE, former UK prime minister Tony Blair and Israeli-Cypriot businessman Yakir Gabay — either neutral or get close ties with Tel Aviv.
E dey useful to draw parallel with the OSCE Minsk Group for the Karabakh conflict. For that platform, Azerbaijan for decades face situation where no co-chairing country dey consistently support Baku. Azerbaijan no trust Russia and France, and e rely only on the neutrality of the US. In the end the Minsk Group no work well, and the conflict settle by force.
From day one of the Gaza war Turkey take uncompromising position: Ankara label Israel actions as war crimes and demand immediate ceasefire. Now Ankara get formal powers to affect the fate of the enclave — including questions of rebuilding infrastructure and attracting investment.
Israeli ministers no hide their anger. Radical finance minister Bezalel Smotrich say: "Countries wey breathe life into Hamas no fit be the ones wey go replace am." National security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir even call for resumption of military action inside the strip.
Inside Israeli political circles dem dey blame Jared Kushner, Trump son-in-law, say him dey "pay Israel back" because Israel refuse to open the Rafah crossing and that him dey push the interests of his Arab partners.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid call the inclusion of Turkey and Qatar for Gaza management "complete diplomatic failure of the Netanyahu government." But sources inside Israeli leadership admit say the prime minister bin inform beforehand about Washington decision, and the public criticism na just for domestic audience.
For Turkey, this event become important milestone for its Middle East policy. Ankara dey show readiness to carry responsibility for the region fate. President Erdoğan, wey dey position himself as leader of the Islamic world, don get real tools to influence fair resolution of the Palestinian issue.
Now the question be how long this arrangement go last. Trump dey create unprecedented system to manage postwar Gaza with three levels — Peace Council headed by the president, Executive Council, and a Palestinian technocratic committee. But details still unclear and contradictions between participants deep.
Israel still dey hit Gaza and dey torpedo terms of any peace agreement, and the humanitarian crisis for the enclave dey get worse.
Nevertheless, the mere presence of Turkey for these structures change the balance of power. For the Palestinians, na the first time in long time dem get an international defender whose voice fit no longer ignore. For Ankara, na chance to cement its status as key player not only for the Middle East but also for global diplomacy.
