Turkey emerges as key player in Gaza ceasefire deal

Turkey aims to take portion successful a “task force” overseeing the newly-agreed ceasefire successful Gaza and the implementation of its articles, President Tayyip Erdogan has said, arsenic Ankara appeared to person emerged arsenic a cardinal subordinate successful some the negotiations and execution of the deal.

A elder Turkish authoritative separately told Reuters that the determination powerfulness will take portion successful a associated task unit – alongside Israel, the United States, Qatar and Egypt – established to find the bodies of deceased hostages successful Gaza whose locations are unknown.

Turkey, which participated successful the ceasefire negotiations successful Egypt, has been 1 of the harshest critics of Israel’s battle connected Gaza, calling it a genocide. Since Israel launched its onslaught connected Gaza two years ago, the NATO state has been progressive successful a mostly indirect capableness successful bid efforts but took a heightened relation successful caller weeks.

“God willing, we arsenic Turkey will take portion successful the task unit that will show the agreement’s implementation successful the field,” Erdogan said successful a speech successful Ankara, adding that Turkey will besides lend to the reconstruction of Gaza.

He besides highlighted Turkey’s relation successful the process, describing events starring up to the statement – from the Gaza gathering astatine the United Nations General Assembly to his discussions connected the contented with US President Donald Trump astatine the White House past period and a subsequent telephone telephone past week.

It was not instantly wide whether Erdogan and the elder authoritative were referring to the aforesaid task unit oregon whether it was a notation to a “stabilization force” per Trump’s plan.

Turkey’s quality main Ibrahim Kalin attended the talks successful Egypt, where helium conveyed Ankara’s views and guidance to Hamas connected however to determination forward, according to a information official, who added Kalin besides held abstracted talks with each parties but the Israeli side. Turkey deems Hamas a absorption group.

Erdogan has said that helium explained to Trump however bid tin beryllium achieved successful Gaza and that the US president requested Ankara’s assistance successful convincing Hamas to judge his plan.

“I americium very pleased that the Hamas-Israel talks taking spot successful Sharm el-Sheikh, with contributions from us arsenic Turkey, person resulted successful a ceasefire successful Gaza,” Erdogan posted connected X earlier connected Thursday. [Reuters]