The diplomat, who is familiar with Turkey's efforts to end the conflict, said the responsibility of the force is yet to be determined. He spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the information.

"Turkey is the best choice given its involvement in several peacekeeping missions in the Middle East," the diplomat said.

Turkey's foreign ministry and other Turkish officials did not return calls for comment. However, private CNN-Turk television, citing unnamed foreign ministry sources, said Turkey had not received such request, but was ready to participate in a monitoring force if a cease-fire is achieved.

Turkish officials were not immediately available for comment.

A joint cease-fire initiative by Egypt and France to halt the increasingly bloody Israeli offensive in Hamas-ruled Gaza won support from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

An Israeli government spokesman, Mark Regev, said Israel could accept the proposal if it halts "hostile fire" from Gaza and includes measures to prevent Hamas from rearming.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called on the rival sides to follow up on the proposal. The precise details of the proposal and Turkey's involvement in it remain unclear.

"Nobody knows what function it will have, I cannot say if it will be in charge of border monitors or what it will be," the diplomat said.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said the initiative seeks an immediate cease-fire by Israel and Palestinian factions for a specific period to ensure that corridors for delivery of humanitarian aid can be created and to give Egypt time to press for a permanent cease-fire.

Turkey has called on Israel to open border crossings with Gaza and has already offered to send soldiers to monitor a cease-fire if needed. Turkey currently actively participates in peacekeeping missions in West Bank city of Hebron and Lebanon in the Middle East as well in Afghanistan and Kosovo.

Turkey, Israel's closest ally in the Muslim world, has been increasingly critical of Israel over its Gaza ground offensive against Hamas. A Turkish envoy met with Hamas officials in Syria at least twice over the past week as part of Turkey's meditation efforts, which were conducted together with the Egyptian-French initiative.

Turkey is also keeping diplomatic channels open with Israel's adversary, Iran.

Iran is a key backer of Hamas and other radical Palestinian factions.

An Iranian envoy, Saeed Jalili, met with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and President Abdullah Gul on Wednesday.

Israel says its operations are aimed at shutting down Hamas teams in Gaza aiming rockets at Israel.