Hamas leadership meets Turkish foreign minister
A high-level delegation from Hamas, headed by its Gaza chief Khalil al-Hayya, met with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Istanbul on Saturday.
The meeting focused heavily on the status of the ongoing cease-fire agreement in the Gaza Strip, as well as the critical humanitarian needs of the Palestinian territory.
Detailing Alleged ‘Israeli’ Violations
Hamas announced in a statement that the discussions centered on the latest developments in the Palestinian cause and conditions in Gaza, especially following the truce deal implemented last month.
The delegation reportedly presented Fidan with a detailed memorandum outlining what the movement described as "Zionist breaches" of the cease-fire agreement since its start.
These violations included strikes that Hamas claims resulted in the deaths of approximately 250 Palestinians and other failures related to the implementation of the truce, such as issues with the full opening of the Rafah crossing.
Background: Turkey's Mediation Role
The meeting in Istanbul highlights Türkiye's active and continued diplomatic engagement in the conflict. Türkiye, which considers Hamas a legitimate resistance group, played a key role in the negotiations that led to the US-brokered cease-fire deal last month.
This increased role came following a White House meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US President Donald Trump, who specifically requested Ankara use its relationship with Hamas to facilitate the truce.
Foreign Minister Fidan has repeatedly stressed the importance of strict adherence to the cease-fire, warning that any ‘Israeli’ provocation could reignite the war and prolong civilian suffering. He has also publicly accused ‘Israel’ of seeking pretexts to violate the truce and resume hostilities.
Humanitarian Crisis and Political Demands
Al-Hayya briefed Minister Fidan on the dire humanitarian and living conditions facing Palestinians in Gaza, emphasizing the urgent need for international relief and shelter as the winter season approaches.
Hamas affirmed its commitment to the agreed-upon terms, stressing that its obligations include locating and transferring the remaining bodies of ‘Israeli’ captives held in the Gaza Strip. The movement has tied further progress in these efforts to the extreme destruction in Gaza, saying the process requires time.
Beyond the immediate cease-fire, Hamas also stressed the need to advance national political objectives, including forming an independent body to govern Gaza and securing a full ‘Israeli’ withdrawal from the besieged strip.
The broader cease-fire framework, which Turkey helped shape, includes provisions for reconstructing Gaza and establishing a new governing mechanism without Hamas, a point of ongoing contention.
The delegation also reviewed the difficult conditions in the West Bank and Jerusalem and the ongoing ‘Israeli’ violations against citizens, holy sites, and detainees, stressing the need for regional and international action to halt these actions.
