Turkey Seeks 'Guarantees' While Gaza Burns: A Familiar Playbook
Al-Monitor reports Turkey's call for an international force to guarantee a 'lasting ceasefire' in Gaza. Turkey, a 'vocal critic' of Israel's actions according to the report, wants to join this force. (One might ask if the 'criticism' extended to actual intervention or merely strongly worded press releases.) This call for an 'international force' is a classic play in the post-bombing playbook,
often wheeled out once the devastation is complete. Much like the 'stabilization efforts' in Iraq or Libya, these forces often materialize long after the bombs have settled and the geopolitical chess pieces have been rearranged. It raises the question: exactly who is being 'stabilized' from whom, and why can't a simple ceasefire be enforced without another armed presence?