Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan at press conference announced a meeting of Muslim countries in Istanbul to discuss the U.S-led Gaza Peace initiative [Middle East Monitor]
On Friday, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced a meeting aimed at assessing the recent developments and discussing subsequent moves on the lasting peace in the Gaza Strip.
“We will evaluate our progress and discuss what we can achieve together in the next stage,” Fidan told reporters in Ankara.
A spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry said invitations had been sent out to Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. These seven countries, plus Türkiye, met with U.S. President Donald Trump on September 23 on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on the situation in the Gaza Strip and a proposed road map leading to peace.
Fidan described the upcoming summit as a vital opportunity to coordinate the positions of Muslim nations and to enhance dialogue with Washington.
“A glimmer of hope appeared and gave hope to everyone,” he said during a joint press conference with Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna.
Next Steps Toward Peace
Fidan added that ministers would address several key questions during the Istanbul talks, such as the obstacles towards the implementation of the peace plan, how to avoid violations of the ceasefire, and how to engage more constructively with Western partners.
“What are the obstacles to its implementation? What challenges do we face? What will we be discussing with our Western friends? And what support is there for the ongoing talks with the United States?” asked Fidan.
Türkiye has time and again called for a mechanism by the international community to ensure stability in the Gaza Strip. Last week, Ankara sent an 81-member disaster response team to contribute to search and rescue efforts in the war-torn territory.
The team, however, remains at the border, awaiting its entry permit from Israel into Gaza. Fidan said Türkiye was “working intensely” to get that permission and that it was ready to provide humanitarian aid.
He further disclosed that the armed forces of Türkiye have discussed joining an international stabilization force to monitor and enforce the ceasefire once it reaches full operation.
“We are ready to take part in any fair and just international mission that will contribute to securing peace in the Gaza Strip,” Fidan said.
Fidan strongly criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of seeking pretexts to disrupt the ceasefire.
“Netanyahu is looking for a pretext to violate the ceasefire and relaunch the genocide under the eyes of the whole world,” he said.
His comments came amid heightened tensions between Ankara and Tel Aviv, as Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar rejected any Turkish participation in a peacekeeping mission.
“It is not reasonable for us to let their armed forces enter the Gaza Strip, and we will not agree to that,” Saar said earlier in the week. “We have made this clear to our American friends.”
A Push for Muslim Unity
The aim of the Istanbul summit is to unify positions on Gaza among Muslim nations and strengthen cooperation on diplomatic efforts, humanitarian operations, and security. Fidan added that at the second stage in peacemaking, the ministers would be considering the establishment of a “stability force.”
As he continued, “The subjects being discussed now are how to proceed to the second stage, the stability force.
The Istanbul talks could indicate a sea change in aligning the policies of Muslim countries towards Gaza and international involvement in the US-led peace process, believe diplomatic observers. As humanitarian needs continue to rise and doubts linger over the durability of the ceasefire, the success of Monday’s summit might influence not only the future of Gaza but also Türkiye’s growing diplomatic role in the region.
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