Al-Ain media in the UAE said this week that Turkey is signaling that Hamas could hand over power in Gaza.
Ankara is seeking to play a greater role in Gaza. As part of this initiative, it is holding a meeting in Istanbul to discuss the future administration and reconstruction of Gaza.
It also discussed the international stabilization force that is expected to be created for Gaza. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Monday that countries are “still working on a UN Security Council mandate for an international stabilization force in Gaza, and will decide on any troop deployments once a framework is complete,” Reuters noted.
Fidan was speaking as ministers of Muslim countries arrived to meet in Istanbul. According to reports, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Pakistan, and Indonesia were supposed to send representatives to Turkey.
“The countries... will decide on any troop deployments once a framework is complete,” Al-Ain media reported.
“Hamas is ready to hand over power,” it also said. “Fidan explained at a press conference at the conclusion of the meeting that Hamas is ready to hand over the administration of Gaza to a committee formed by the Palestinians.”
“It seems like Hamas is quite determined to adhere to the agreement,” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told delegates from the Organization of Islamic States as they arrived in Istanbul for a separate meeting.
Although this is important, it also shows the slow pace of progress in Gaza.
The ceasefire deal was agreed on October 8, and then the truce began on October 13. Since then, Hamas has turned over the living hostages and the bodies of twenty deceased hostages as well.
Turkey’s role in Gaza is seen as controversial in Israel. This is because Ankara has been deeply critical of Israel, to the point of inciting against Jerusalem.
Turkey is a member of NATO and thus America’s partner. US Central Command has created a coordination center in Israel to focus on Gaza. So, Ankara’s potential role in stabilization is still unclear.
Turkey meets with representatives from Muslim countries, Arab world
Turkey has hosted and appeared to back Hamas in the past. Therefore, it’s plausible that Ankara has influence over Hamas and would be welcomed in Gaza. However, that could mean it would help Hamas remain in power behind the scenes.
The Al-Ain report said foreign ministers and representatives of several Arab and Muslim countries attended the Ankara meeting.
Turkey said “that the issue of rebuilding Gaza must be pursued so that the sector can recover, stressing the need for Israel to stop its attacks on the Gaza Strip immediately.”
Ankara’s foreign minister also “called for the necessity of achieving Palestinian unity, [saying] that no action should be allowed that would spoil the peace process. He noted that the meeting discussed the International Stabilization Force, calling on the UN Security Council to define the force’s mission,” Al-Ain reported.
Turkey is seeking a broader role in Gaza and wants to see progress on various issues there. It also believes Hamas has complied with the ceasefire.
It is important to remember that Turkey and Qatar are close allies, and both have hosted and worked with Hamas in the past. This raises concerns as to whether Ankara and Doha play the leading role in Gaza.