Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, speaking alongside his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Doha on Sunday, called for international pressure on Israel to accept a peace deal and allow urgent humanitarian aid into Gaza. Fidan reaffirmed Turkiye’s support for the Palestinian people and stressed that Hamas was ready for a truce, urging that “Israel must now be forced into peace.”
Fidan emphasized that the Palestinian resistance was open to a long-term solution, and said that the region’s diplomatic momentum must be harnessed to secure lasting peace. He noted that Turkiye and Qatar’s efforts were complementary, with Qatar frequently hosting indirect talks between the parties and Turkiye pushing a global diplomatic initiative.
Qatari FM Al Thani echoed the need for swift aid delivery, denouncing Israel’s use of starvation as a weapon. “Efforts must be made with allies to compel Israel to allow the entry of humanitarian aid,” he said, warning of the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where over 52,200 Palestinians have reportedly been killed since October 2023.
Al Thani also confirmed limited progress in negotiations following a recent meeting in Doha between Mossad chief David Barnea and the Qatari prime minister. Talks are reportedly focused on a potential comprehensive deal involving a permanent cease-fire and release of hostages. Hamas has indicated willingness to accept a five-year truce, conditional on a complete end to Israeli military actions.
Fidan said Hamas could agree to a deal that includes a two-state solution and emphasized that the crisis should not end with a temporary cease-fire alone. “This may be the last crisis we face—if goodwill prevails,” he said. He also called on the U.S. to play a more decisive role in influencing Israel’s decisions.
Addressing regional security, Fidan also commented on Syria and reiterated Turkiye’s opposition to the YPG, a PKK-affiliated group. He warned the group to either disband or face the consequences, stressing that no armed actors outside Syria’s central authority should be tolerated. His remarks followed a meeting of Kurdish groups in northeast Syria advocating for a decentralized system, which Turkiye rejects.
Fidan said positive steps were being taken by Damascus to promote inclusivity and that Turkiye expected the implementation of recent agreements between the Syrian government and the YPG. He added that Turkiye remained committed to defending Syria’s territorial integrity and warned regional actors against exploiting the current instability.
Calling for a new regional order, Fidan concluded, “This region has seen enough conflict. It’s time to build a peaceful and free system. Those who continue to pursue Cold War-era goals through terrorism will be confronted. Turkiye is prepared for that challenge.”
Source: Daily Sabah
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
