Turkish Foreign Minister-Egypt Discusses Gaza's Armistice And Postwar Rehabilitation
JAKARTA - The foreign ministers of Turkey and Egypt will discuss the Gaza ceasefire and international efforts to rebuild the region after the war ended in negotiations in Ankara.
Turkey, a NATO member, has been one of the most vocal critics of Israel's two-year attacks on Gaza, calling it genocide, Israel denies.
Together with Egypt and Qatar, Turkey has helped mediate this fragile ceasefire, emerged as an important player, and pledged to monitor the strict implementation of the agreement.
A Turkish Foreign Ministry source said Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan would host his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty for negotiations on Wednesday regarding the possible next phase of the US-brokered ceasefire agreement.
Fidan will "state that, despite Israeli violations, the Palestinians comply with the ceasefire provisions and manage the process positively", the source said.
Fidan will also emphasize the need for world powers to help rebuild the enclave and repeat Turkey's offer to play a role in the effort.
Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas have repeatedly accused each other of violating the October ceasefire agreement, with Israel saying Hamas was stalling over the return of the hostages' bodies, while Hamas said Israel was continuing to block aid deliveries.
At US pressure, Turkey has repeatedly voiced its desire to join the task force to monitor the implementation of the ceasefire, including international stabilization forces that are being sought to resolve the UN Security Council.
However, Israel voiced its opposition to Turkey's involvement, saying that no troops from Turkey would be present in Gaza.
The ministers will also hold the inaugural meeting of the Turkey-Egyptical Joint Planning Group, the source said. The meeting will bring together officials to prepare for high-level negotiations to be held in Cairo next year, in accordance with the agreement signed last year.
Ankara has repeatedly praised Egypt for its role in accepting and facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. Egypt has sent thousands of tons of aid and offered Hamas assistance to find the bodies of Israeli hostages according to the deal.
Earlier this month, ministers from seven Muslim countries met in Istanbul to discuss Gaza, but Egypt was not present.
Fidan also held talks with US officials about Syria and Gaza during a visit to Washington on Monday, after which he said they had discussed possible further steps in the ceasefire agreement.