Thomas Barrack: Potential Turkish Cooperation in Gaza and Opportunities for an Agreement Between Israel and Syria

U.S. envoy to Syria Thomas Barrack said that Turkey may play a role in a potential international force in the Gaza Strip and in supporting a path toward an agreement between Israel and Syria. Barrack’s remarks came during an interview with the Israeli channel i24NEWS on Wednesday evening.

Barrack added that “Turkey is not hostile toward Israel,” considering that it has capabilities that could contribute to dealing with Hamas. He explained: “Our proposal was that Turkish forces could help calm the situation, and I understand the Israeli reservations, but I believe this could contribute to stability.”

The U.S. envoy pointed to the possibility of a normalization path between Israel and Turkey, describing it as “very logical.”

Regarding Syria, Barrack said that Israel “cannot confront every neighboring state at the same time,” expressing his belief in the possibility of reaching an agreement between Israel and Damascus, considering that such an agreement “serves Israel’s interests.” He added that Syria “understands that its future is tied to a security agreement and border arrangements with Israel.”

Barrack considered the Syrian file “the easiest step” for Israel to make diplomatic progress, noting that it represents “a suitable space to show flexibility in engagement and bridge gaps” at the current stage.