Reconstruction of GAZA and Turkey
Since the beginning of the conflict and Israel's disproportionate attacks on Gaza, Turkey has focused its policy on two main issues. The first one is to ensure a ceasefire as soon as possible and the second one is Turkey's role as a guarantor country in favour of Palestine.
Israel's attacks on Gaza reached its 251st day as of 13 June. Unfortunately, 36,379 Palestinians have lost their lives as of 01 June 2024. Almost all of those who lost their lives are civilians. Among the casualties, 15,371 were children (1). The UN has even announced that it has put the Israeli Armed Forces and HAMAS on the "black list" due to the harm caused to children in this conflict and the fact that children are not excluded from the war. (2) The civilian casualties have further increased with Israel's attacks in the Rafah region about three weeks ago. Since the beginning of the conflict and Israel's disproportionate attacks on Gaza, Turkey has focused its policy on two main issues. The first one is to ensure a ceasefire as soon as possible and the second one is Turkey's role as a guarantor country in favour of Palestine. However, at this stage, the Palestine policy based on these two main issues has not been able to provide Turkey with the desired international role and purpose in preventing the events in Gaza.
When we analyse these two basic approaches of Turkey, the following issues come to the fore. In the current situation, two conditions must be met for a ceasefire to take place. The first is Israel's acceptance of a temporary or permanent ceasefire on its own volition or at the suggestion of the US. The second is that Israel may accept the ceasefire with the decision of the UN Security Council (UNSC) under the US initiative. UNSC Resolution 2735 (2024) (3), adopted at the suggestion of US President Biden, actually proves the correctness of these propositions. In other words, at this stage, the ceasefire in Gaza depends on the behaviour of Israel and the US. When we look at the resolution numbered 2735 (2024), the most striking topics are the permanent ceasefire, the mutual release of prisoners, the start of humanitarian aid, Israel's withdrawal first from the settlements in Gaza, then its complete withdrawal and the reconstruction of Gaza. At the time of writing, negotiations on the ceasefire are still ongoing, HAMAS has generally accepted it and Israel is still analysing it. But most probably it will be accepted by Israel, perhaps with some changes. Because when we consider the ongoing case in the International Court of Justice, this ceasefire may be seen as one of Israel's most important chances.
The second issue raised by Turkey is the issue of guarantees. In fact, Turkey has two important experiences on this issue, both in Cyprus and Nakhchivan (For detailed information see; AKYAR M.S, Turkey's guarantorship, https://www.ngazete.com/20-temmuz-1974-baris-harekati-ve-garantorluk-3461yy.htm). However, one of the most important conditions for guarantorship is that the parties to the conflict agree on the guarantor country/countries and confirm this with an international agreement/document involving the parties. However, at the current stage, Turkey has thrown bridges with Israel. Therefore, it does not seem possible for Turkey's guarantor policy to be realised at the moment. As a matter of fact, Palestine does not endeavour to see Turkey as either a guarantor or a mediator. Even in the ceasefire proposed according to the latest UNSC resolution, the US tried to create a pressure factor on HAMAS with Egypt and Qatar. Therefore, Turkey needs new and different policies to take the initiative on Gaza.
Guaranteeing the Reconstruction of Gaza by the International Community
Western countries followed the following policy regarding Israel's attack on Gaza. After the attack of HAMAS on 7 October 2023, Western governments and public opinion made statements condemning HAMAS and supporting Israel. However, as a result of Israel's disproportionate use of force, its targeting of civilians and children, and the fact that its attacks were heading towards genocide, Western governments continued to officially support Israel, while public opinion began to support Palestine. Especially after the Israeli attack on Rafah, some Western governments such as Norway, Spain and Ireland took decisions to officially recognise Palestine (4).
At this stage, in countries such as the USA, the UK and France, which are both permanent members of the UNSC and officially support Israel, there is a deep divergence between official policy and public opinion. The public opinion, especially in universities, supports Palestine, demonstrates against their governments and demands an immediate end to the events in Gaza. The governments, on the other hand, have been in a search against these demands of the public opinion. However, in line with their own policies, this quest should not bring any legal responsibility to Israel and should satisfy the public opinion.
In the UNSC Resolution 2735 (2024), which was adopted with the initiative of the USA, perhaps the most important decision after the permanent ceasefire is the reconstruction of Gaza. Because with the reconstruction of Gaza, the international community has once again guaranteed that Gaza belongs to Palestine. In fact, this guarantee given by the international community is an issue that will prevent the two-state solution in Palestine, the fact that Gaza belongs to the Palestinian government, and more precisely, the formation of the "New Palestinian State", which is the initial goal of Israel, and which is aimed to be established in the Sinai Peninsula, which is touted as the Deal of the Century after the Abraham Accords (For detailed information, see; AKYAR M.S., What Will Be Israel's Next Move?, https://www.kibrisraporu.com/israilin-siradaki-hamlesi-ne-olacak/). In the coming period, Turkey should concentrate on the "Reconstruction of Gaza" and humanitarian aid, which will be supported by both governments and public opinion. Of course, only the construction activities necessary for the establishment of infrastructure should not be understood here. Turkey can have a say in the Palestinian issue by leading a similar organisation like the "Istanbul Process" (5) and "Friends of Sudan" (6), which were previously established for the reform and reconstruction of Afghanistan. Because when this construction issue comes to the agenda, Israel will probably try to have this activity carried out in line with its own goals and policies. Because there is a port/jetty in Gaza built by the USA. Most probably, most of the aid and reconstruction activities will be carried out from here and control will be tried to be ensured. If Turkey wants to be at the table in the Palestinian issue, it should be the leading country or one of the key countries in the reconstruction of Gaza. Otherwise, the Palestinian people will suffer the most from this situation. Because historically, when Turkey-Israel relations were bad, the Palestinian people generally suffered.
As a result, Turkey, while giving the necessary support to the ceasefire efforts, should be one of the leading countries in the reconstruction of Gaza in order to have a greater role in the Palestinian issue in the coming period and should present new initiatives and policies to the countries, the international community and the world public opinion on this issue by taking advantage of the positive atmosphere created for Gaza. Turkey can take the initiative and start the process by organising an international conference/forum without delay in order to coordinate both the reconstruction of Gaza and humanitarian aid activities.
References
(1) Filistin’in Gazze’deki Kayıpları, https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/dunya/israilin-239-gundur-saldirilarini-surdurdugu-gazzede-can-kaybi-36-bin-379a-cikti/3237162#:~:text=%C4%B0srail'in%207%20Ekim'den,82%20bin%20407%20ki%C5%9Fi%20yaraland%C4%B1., Erişim Tarihi: 13 Haz 2024
(2) İsrail ve HAMAS’ın BM Siyah Listeye alınmaları, https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cv223vlerdvo, Erişim Tarihi: 12 Haz 2024
(3) BM Gazze ateşkes Kararı, https://press.un.org/en/2024/sc15723.doc.htm#:~:text=After%20247%20days%20of%20war,and%20without%20delay%20and%20condition. Erişim Tarihi: 11 Haz 2024
(4) Filistin’in Devlet olarak tanıyan ülkeler, https://www.bbc.com/turkce/articles/clmm2vz0vmgo, Erişim tarihi: 12 Haz 2024
(5) İstanbul Süreci, https://peacemaker.un.org/node/1825, Erişim Tarihi: 12 Haz 2024
(6) Friends of Sudan Group (Türkiye grupta bulunmamaktadır), https://www.eeas.europa.eu/delegations/sudan/friends-sudan-group-statement-signature-framework-agreement_en?s=122, Erişim Tarihi: 12 Haz 2024
-AKYAR M.S, Türkiye’nin Garantörlüğü, https://www.ngazete.com/20-temmuz-1974-baris-harekati-ve-garantorluk-3461yy.htm.),
-AKYAR M.S., İsrail’in Sıradaki Hamlesi Ne Olacak? https://www.kibrisraporu.com/israilin-siradaki-hamlesi-ne-olacak/
