As the fragile ceasefire in Gaza faces renewed threats, Turkey is set to host a high-stakes summit on Monday, bringing together the foreign ministers of key regional powers to discuss the future of the peace process. The meeting comes amid escalating fears of a breakdown in the truce and a push by the United States to initiate the highly complex second phase of its peace plan.
According to the Al Monitor, the upcoming meeting in Istanbul will gather the foreign ministers of Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, and five other Arab nations to assess the current stage of the ceasefire and coordinate next steps, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced on Friday. The announcement follows a week of renewed instability, including Israeli airstrikes inside Gaza that killed over 100 people after Hamas launched an attack against Israeli soldiers in Rafah. Israel has also accused Hamas of violating the truce by failing to hand over all hostage remains as stipulated in US President Donald Trump's 20-point peace plan. The same group of eight countries—which also includes Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Indonesia, and Pakistan—previously met with Trump in September, laying the groundwork for the current ceasefire.
Foreign Minister Fidan stated that the summit would not only evaluate the progress of the ceasefire but also address "what we can do together in the next phase" and "how to coordinate with our Western partners." Turkey, alongside Egypt and Qatar, played a crucial role in brokering the ceasefire deal signed during Trump’s visit to Egypt on October 13, which temporarily halted the conflict as it entered its third year.
The significance of the Istanbul summit lies in the regional powers' concerted effort to maintain the delicate ceasefire momentum. The primary concern is the looming transition to the second phase of the peace plan, a stage fraught with political and logistical challenges. This phase involves the demilitarization of Hamas, a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Strip, and the deployment of a multinational stabilization force, all intended to pave the way for a transitional governing authority in Gaza.
For Ankara, hosting the summit is a clear demonstration of its ambition to remain a visible and central player in the ceasefire process. This role is politically valuable for President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, as the Palestinian cause resonates strongly with his domestic political base. However, Turkey's active involvement faces resistance from Israel, whose ties with Ankara have reached a low point during the war. Israel is reportedly resisting further Turkish participation, even as Washington is said to be pushing for Ankara to take on a significant role.
The underlying tensions are evident in the details. Turkish officials confirmed that Ankara had prepared an 80-member crew to assist in recovering hostage bodies, but Israel has so far denied the crew's entry into Gaza. Furthermore, Israeli officials remain wary of Turkey's potential role in the new US-run coordination center in Kiryat Gat, which monitors the ceasefire's implementation, citing Ankara’s vocal support for Hamas. Unlike other NATO members, Turkey does not classify Hamas as a terrorist organization and has been a staunch critic of Israel's actions in the enclave.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar publicly voiced this skepticism, stating earlier this week that "Countries that want or are ready to send armed forces should be at least fair to Israel," in a clear reference to the possibility of Turkish troops being dispatched to Gaza.
Beyond the Gaza crisis, the diplomatic flurry in Ankara continued this week. The UK Prime Minister's visit sealed a significant $10.7 billion deal for Turkey to purchase 20 new Eurofighter Typhoon jets, a major step in modernizing its air fleet. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also visited, underscoring Turkey's active diplomatic engagement across multiple fronts. The Istanbul summit, however, remains the focal point, representing a critical juncture for the future of the Gaza truce and the broader regional balance of power.
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