Turkey rejects claims of pressuring Hamas for Gaza ceasefire deal
Turkey has officially denied that its foreign minister pressured Hamas to make compromises in ceasefire talks with Israel, Middle East Eye reported on April 28th.
Turkey’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Oncu Keceli, said: “The claim published by an Israeli newspaper does not reflect the truth.” On April 27th, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met Hamas Shura Council chairman Muhammad Ismail Darwish and other senior officials in Doha.
The discussions focused on achieving a long-term ceasefire and delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza, according to a Turkish readout.
On April 28th, Haaretz reported, citing Palestinian officials affiliated with Hamas, that Turkey had pressured Hamas at the request of the United States.
Efforts to secure a ceasefire continue on several fronts. A Hamas delegation travelled to Cairo to discuss new proposals with Egyptian officials, France 24 via AFP reported on April 22nd, as cited by Levantis. Talks remain difficult, as Hamas demands a permanent end to the conflict, while Israel proposes only a temporary truce and calls for Hamas’s disarmament, Middle East Eye reported on April 23rd.
Mediators from Egypt and Qatar also proposed a new plan. The proposal suggests a five-to-seven-year truce, full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and a prisoner exchange, according to the BBC on April 21st.
The situation in Gaza remains critical. Since October 7th, 2023, Israeli attacks have killed at least 51,000 Palestinians, according to a Middle East Eye on April 15th.
BBC, France 24 via AFP, Haaretz, Middle East Eye
