Ankara (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is set to meet with counterparts from Muslim countries in Istanbul on Monday to discuss arrangements for the swift security and governance of Gaza by Palestinians, a foreign ministry source said on Sunday.
The foreign ministers of the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Pakistan, and Indonesia are scheduled to participate in the meeting regarding ceasefire progress and the humanitarian situation in Gaza, according to a Turkish foreign ministry source.
What will Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan discuss in Istanbul?
According to sources, Fidan was expected to
“emphasise the importance of coordinated action by Muslim countries for the ceasefire to evolve into a lasting peace.”
He is set to inform the forum that Israel is “making excuses” to terminate the ceasefire and highlight the need for the international community to
“take a resolute stance against Israel’s provocative actions”.
He was also prepared to state that the humanitarian aid entering Gaza is inadequate and that Israel has not lived up to its responsibilities in this area. Moreover, on the eve of Monday’s meeting, Hakan Fidan received a delegation from Hamas led by Khalil al-Hayya.
What role does Turkey envision for Palestinians in Gaza?
“We must end the massacre in Gaza. A ceasefire in itself is not enough,”
Fidan said, arguing for the two-state solution to the intractable Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
“We should recognise that Gaza should be governed by the Palestinians, and act with caution,”
he added.
Relations between Turkey and Israel have deteriorated further during the Gaza conflict, as President Tayyip Erdogan publicly condemned Israel’s attacks on the enclave. Turkey played a role in convincing Hamas to accept Trump’s peace proposal and has indicated readiness to join an international task force for overseeing the ceasefire.
What stance did Netanyahu take on Turkish forces in Gaza?
On the other hand, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu indicated last month his opposition to any role for Turkish security forces in the Gaza Strip as part of a mission to monitor a ceasefire with Hamas.
Speaking in Jerusalem with visiting U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Netanyahu stated they had discussed the “day-after” for Gaza, including potential security providers for the territory ravaged by two years of conflict.
Regarding the question about Turkish security forces in Gaza, Netanyahu responded:
“I have very strong opinions about that. Want to guess what they are?”
