Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated on Monday that Hamas remains “determined” to uphold the Gaza truce, according to AFP.
He also said that it is essential for Muslim nations to play an active role in reconstructing Gaza.
“It seems that Hamas is quite determined to adhere to the agreement,” Erdogan told delegates of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), addressing the annual COMCEC economic cooperation summit in Istanbul.
Scheduled Meeting
The President’s statements came ahead of a scheduled meeting for the foreign ministers of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Pakistan and Indonesia.
“At this point, we need to deliver more humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza and then begin reconstruction efforts,” Erdogan said.
The meeting will kick off around 1100 GMT at an Istanbul hotel, with a news conference due several hours later.
“We believe the reconstruction plan prepared by the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation should be implemented immediately,” he said, in a reference to a Gaza reconstruction plan announced in March.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is also set to urge swift arrangements to ensure that Palestinians assume responsibility for Gaza’s security and administration during the talks.
Fidan will underscore the significance of coordinated action by Muslim countries to ensure that the ceasefire will lead to a lasting peace.
All countries participating in the Istanbul talks had previously taken part in a landmark meeting with US President Donald Trump in New York in September, held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
Israel has been repeatedly violating the US-brokered Gaza ceasefire deal since it came into effect.
Meanwhile, the truce did not address key issues such as the disarmament of Hamas and a timeline for Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza.
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