Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with members of Hamas’ Political Bureau in Istanbul on Saturday to discuss the status of the Gaza ceasefire and the ongoing humanitarian situation in the besieged Palestinian enclave, according to Turkish diplomatic sources.

The meeting came just two days before a planned gathering of foreign ministers from several Muslim-majority countries, who will meet on Monday to coordinate positions on the ceasefire process and future steps for Gaza’s reconstruction and governance.

Sources said the Istanbul meeting focused primarily on the implementation of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, which began on October 10, and on addressing urgent humanitarian needs amid widespread devastation in the territory.

“Discussions centered on the humanitarian crisis, the continuation of the ceasefire, and preparations for the next stage of stabilization,” one diplomatic source said.

Fidan emphasized Türkiye’s ongoing engagement with all relevant actors to ensure the sustainability of the truce and the delivery of aid to Gaza’s civilians, describing the talks as part of Ankara’s broader diplomatic efforts to “protect regional stability and uphold justice for the Palestinian people.”

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Fidan announced that the Monday meeting would bring together foreign ministers from the eight Muslim nations that met with U.S. President Donald Trump in New York in September: Türkiye, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Pakistan, and Indonesia.

“The main issue on the table will be the formation of a stabilization force to ensure lasting calm in Gaza,” Fidan said, noting that the group would also evaluate proposals for reconstruction, governance mechanisms, and international monitoring for the next phase of the ceasefire.

The upcoming talks are expected to result in a joint framework outlining how Muslim nations could play a coordinating role in Gaza’s recovery, particularly in establishing a political and security structure that would prevent further escalation.

Under the first phase of the truce agreement, Hamas has released 20 Israeli captives alive and handed over the remains of 19 individuals, most of them Israelis, according to official statements. Israeli authorities have claimed that one of the bodies received did not match any of the listed hostages.

In return, Israel agreed to release nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners as part of a broader exchange mechanism, though the process has faced repeated delays and disputes over verification.

Despite the declared ceasefire, Israeli attacks have continued. The Gaza Health Ministry reported that since the truce began, Israel has killed 211 Palestinians and injured 597 others in ongoing assaults across the Strip.

Since October 2023, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has killed over 68,500 people, the majority women and children, and injured more than 170,600, according to Gaza’s health authorities. Large sections of the enclave remain in ruins, with hospitals, schools, and refugee shelters severely damaged or destroyed.

Hamas has stated that progress in the second phase of the ceasefire depends on the identification and retrieval of all hostage remains, a process it says is being slowed by the massive destruction and ongoing Israeli bombardments.

The second phase of the agreement is expected to focus on reconstruction efforts, security arrangements, and the establishment of a new governing mechanism in Gaza — one that, according to Israeli demands, would exclude Hamas.

Türkiye has positioned itself as a key mediator in the Gaza ceasefire process, maintaining open communication channels with both Hamas and regional governments. Fidan has repeatedly stated that Ankara’s goal is to achieve a lasting peace framework that guarantees Palestinian rights, prevents renewed aggression, and opens the path toward an independent Palestinian state.

“The suffering in Gaza cannot end without a just and permanent peace,” Fidan said earlier this week. “Türkiye will continue to stand by the Palestinian people and work with regional partners to ensure that Gaza’s tragedy does not repeat itself.”

The Istanbul meeting underscores Türkiye’s ongoing diplomatic outreach and its central role in regional coordination ahead of the crucial ministerial summit, which observers say could shape the next chapter of the Gaza ceasefire and the broader peace process in the Middle East. (ILKHA)