Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is set to urge swift arrangements to ensure that Palestinians assume responsibility for Gaza’s security and administration, during a meeting in Istanbul on Monday, according to Reuters.
The meeting will bring together the foreign ministers of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Pakistan and Indonesia to discuss ceasefire developments and the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian enclave.
The Turkish foreign ministry source said that 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.
The US-brokered Gaza ceasefire deal has been repeatedly violated by Israel 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.
The source also added that Fidan will tell the meeting that Israel is “making excuses” to end the ceasefire and emphasize the need for the international community to “take a resolute stance against Israel’s provocative actions.”
Moreover, he will note that Israel did not abide by its obligations regarding ending the humanitarian suffering of people saying that that humanitarian aid entering Gaza is insufficient.
Israeli Turkish Relations
Tensions between Israel and Turkey have been rising since the outbreak of the Gaza War in October 2023 with Erdogan accusing Israel of committing a genocide in Gaza.
Notably, Ankara has revealed its intention to take part in the reconstruction plan of Gaza by joining a “task force” overseeing the implementation of the ceasefire. In this context, Turkey said that its armed forces are willing to participate in either a military or civilian capacity as required.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday signaled his opposition to any involvement of Turkish security forces in the Palestinian enclave.
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