Azerbaijan Faces Puzzle Over Military Presence in Gaza
Guest Commentary by Ehsan Movahedian: Zionist sources have reported that Azerbaijan intends to join the multinational stabilization force in the Gaza Strip. This move highlights Baku’s key role under pressure from Zionists within the framework of the Abraham Accords.
Analysts note that Azerbaijan’s Muslim majority, combined with its military and economic ties to Tel Aviv, make it a reliable and recognized partner for promoting Zionist goals.
The Israeli regime is striving, following the end of the Gaza war, to achieve through political channels what it could not gain through violence and bloodshed. In pursuit of clearing Gaza of Hamas forces by recruiting security partners after the war, Israel has repeatedly identified Azerbaijan as a top candidate. Experts believe Azerbaijan’s participation would be strategically, politically, and economically beneficial for Israel.
Joseph Epstein, head of Turan Research Center in Washington, stated: “Azerbaijan joining this mission strengthens Israel due to its long-standing relations with Tel Aviv and shared interests against Iran.”
Zeev Khanin,professor at Bar-Ilan University,added that the Israel-Palestine conflict has never weakened the Baku-Tel Aviv alliance; Baku has neither halted nor slowed its ties with Israel.
Over three decades, security cooperation between Tel Aviv and Azerbaijan intensified-reaching a peak during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war. Azerbaijan employed Israeli military systems which could also be effective in stabilizing Gaza. Conversely, throughout Israel’s offensive on Gaza, Baku continuously supplied oil via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline fueling this regime’s machinery of death.
Why Is Israel Interested in Partnering with Baku in Gaza?
Azerbaijan’s involvement-and also countries like Indonesia-in so-called peacekeeping missions in Gaza supports Zionist efforts to eliminate resistance axes from both Gaza and Palestine. This participation may lend these efforts legitimacy among Muslim countries. through propaganda campaigns,”Israel will attempt to portray this not as an occupation but as a humanitarian act.” Securing international legitimacy is critical for Zionists because it diversifies their coalition beyond purely Western or Israeli schemes-helping sell this mission credibly within Islamic nations. In effect, they hope having one or two Muslim countries participate will mitigate criticism across the Islamic world.
Additionally,azerbaijan has gained experience over recent years rebuilding stability post-conflict in Caucasus through collaboration with Britain and Turkey;Israel aims to utilize this expertise in Gaza operations too.Additionally,Azerbaijan’s involvement can enhance operational capabilities for Zionists on site.
Conversely,Zionists pursue another objective: balancing Turkey’s influence over Gaza.Turkish President Erdogan seeks high-profile engagement there through reconstruction initiatives.Despite Ankara’s extensive commercial ties supplying uninterrupted support to Israel,this presence boosts Erdogan’s standing across Islam.Yet,Zionists oppose expanding Turkish sway or reputation renewal within Palestinian territories.They prefer more trusted or less risky Muslim actors like Azerbaijan or Indonesia overseeing postwar processes locally.
Will Azerbaijan Deploy Forces to Gaza?
The Aliyev goverment remains officially silent on this matter,seemingly relying mainly on quoting content from Zionist media.Investigations imply Azerbaijani participation remains possible.Some reports indicate readiness for troop dispatch toward so-called stabilization mission.For instance,The Times of Israel citedthree informedIsraeliand American officials declaringAzerbaijan agreedto sendforcesforthispurpose.Some Azerbaijani analytical outlets also suggest discussions about troop deployment could occur.The broader U.S.plan concerningGaza entails establishing transitional governing structureswhereAzerbaijan-given full alignmentwithZionists-mightplayarole too.
So,evidence indicates Azerbaijani involvement is plausible though not guaranteed.Obstacles remain complicating conditionsand limiting potential engagement.Furthermore,the legal framework details aroundthis stabilization taskforceremain unresolved-alloperational responsibilitiesandparticipating country logistics are yet unspecified-which introduces significant challenges.
Therefore,Azerbaijan must weigh regional sensitivities carefully,making decisions regarding participation mindful especially toward Turkey,iran,and Arab neighbors.Any action risking damagetoBakuwould affect future economic,political,andsecuritypartnershipsacross Central Asia,Turkey,theArab world,and iran.Namely,this possibilityis realbutnot definitive.yet complex regional dynamics shape what unfolds next.
The Reaction Among Islamic Nations Toward Baku
This step byBakuwill unlikely receive widespread acceptance withinIslamic countries,responses among them will vary.Turkeyhas previously expressed interestinjoiningtheGaza stabilization effort.Sadly Netanyahumade clear Turkish forces’ stationinginGazaisa red line.ForAzerbaijan,a relatively close relationshipwithTurkeyremainscrucialforadvancinggoalsintheCaucasusandCentral Asia.ButgettingtoocloseToIsraelwhile functioningasatooltosupplantTurkish influenceinGaza risks antagonizingErdogan.Simultaneously occurring,it remainsuncertainiftheAliyev administrationispreparedtoaccepttheconsequencesofthiscomplexentanglement.Iranundoubtedlyviewsthisseemingcloser convergencebetweenBakoandTelAvivasamarkedthreat.OnIran’spart,direct AzerbaijanicollaborationintheZionistrunmissionmeansfurtherapproachestoIsrael.Its responsewill followcareful evaluationbeforeitdecideswhentoactandreactionlevels.This studywillexaminerealimpact.Mixedpublicreactionstowards such directparticipationareexpected.another notable factor pertains todiplomaticconstraints inherentamongArab states since some modestly cooperate secretlywithU.S.andIsraelandsimultaneously abstainpublicendorsement.Still,certainArabic governments likethe United Arab Emirates might consider Azaerbijans engagement positive diversitywithin multilateral endeavors but publicopinionwithinArablevelsandPalestine likelyawaitsoften critical oppositioninterpretingacomplicitybeing demonstratedbysuch acts.Among challengesforBako stands balancingits potentialregional gendarme status vis-à-vis US-Israeli approval versus backlash arising from negative iranian/Central Asian/neighbor consequences who reject deeper alignment.An additional layer involves confrontingsocialrititimberturbulencesinstemmingfrompoliticalinterference including furthercomplications involving Erdogan while concurrently Alebedroup respndingupto widerissues raisedby neighboringstates’ sensitivitiesordeferredpositions.billard major shifts occasionedby external pressure especially confront realities accrued through energy-related dedication including preexisting oilexportswhich directly fueled atrocitiesperpetuatedagainst Palestinians during prolonged conflicts.Too largeaparticipation intothis unstablecontext riskesexacerbatingregional tensions exponentially givenalready volatile surroundings thereby making all stakes very significant indeed.
Azeri Republic Previously Instrumental Role Supporting genocide Cold War Through Energy Exports To Israeli Regime Via Turkey And Now Poised Yet Further To Dispatch Troops Into Areas Focused On Disarming Hamas And Ending Resistance Movements Following Prolonged Combat Zones Analysis Suggests These Moves Exemplify Implementation Framework For Abraham Accords As Part Of Greater Integration Of Central Asian And Caucasus States Into US-Zionist Strategic Order Under Which the Regime Not Only Gains Legitimacy But Also Partners Strategically With Regional States emerging cooperation By Some Islamic Countries Will Facilitate Achievement Of These Ambitions
caucasus University Professor & Regional Affairs Expert
