Pakistan and other Muslim countries on Monday criticized Israeli violations of the fragile ceasefire in Gaza and demanded the immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces from the occupied territory, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (FO).
Hamas and Israel signed a ceasefire agreement on October 9, agreeing to release Israeli captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, in the first phase of US President Donald Trump’s initiative to end the Israeli attack on Gaza. Pakistan was one of eight Arab and Muslim countries that worked with Trump on the plan.
Despite occasional flare-ups, the fragile truce has held in Gaza. The truce, which left thorny issues such as the disarmament of Hamas and a timetable for Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza unresolved, has been tested by unilateral Israeli bombings since it came into effect.
Foreign ministers from Turkiye, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Qatar, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Jordan – the same countries that met with Trump on September 23 on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly – met today at the Arab-Islamic Foreign Ministers Coordination Meeting in Istanbul to discuss the ceasefire.
An FO statement said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and other Arab-Islamic diplomats deliberated on the way forward for a lasting ceasefire and sustainable peace in Gaza.
“The leaders jointly called for urgent humanitarian aid for the Palestinians, condemned Israel’s ceasefire violations, demanded Israel’s withdrawal from the occupied Palestinian territory, and emphasized the reconstruction of Gaza.
“Pakistan reaffirmed its principled stance for the establishment of an independent, viable and contiguous State of Palestine based on the pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital, in accordance with UN and OIC resolutions.”
The countries said Gaza’s future must be Palestinian-led and avoid any new guardianship system.
Turkiye, who played a central role in forging the now-shaky three-week ceasefire, is pushing for Muslim nations to lend their influence to the reconstruction of the embattled territory.
“Our principle is that the Palestinians must govern the Palestinians and ensure their own security; the international community must support this in the best possible way: diplomatically, institutionally and economically,” Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said after the talks.
“No one wants to see a new guardianship system emerge,” he said at a news conference.
“We have reached an extremely critical stage: we do not want the genocide in Gaza to resume,” Fidan added, saying all seven nations supported plans for the Palestinians to take control of Gaza’s security and governance.
Fidan, who held talks over the weekend with a Hamas delegation led by its chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya, said the movement was “ready to hand over Gaza to a committee of Palestinians.”
He also expressed hope that reconciliation efforts between Hamas and the rival West Bank-based Palestinian Authority would “bear fruit as soon as possible,” saying inter-Palestinian unity would “strengthen Palestine’s representation in the international community.”
Fidan said it was crucial that the emerging International Stabilization Force (ISF), which will oversee the Gaza ceasefire under Trump’s plan, have a “mandate defined by a UN Security Council resolution and a framework of legitimacy.”
Washington is currently working with Arab and international partners to decide the composition of the force, and Turkiye hopes to play a role, despite fierce opposition from Israel.
“The countries we have spoken to say they will decide whether to send troops based… on the mandate and authority of the ISF,” Fidan said.
“First, it is necessary to reach a general consensus on a draft and then it must be approved by the members of the Security Council.
“And it must be free of vetoes by any of the permanent members (of the UNSC),” he said of a blocking measure frequently used by Washington, Israel’s key ally.
Israel has long viewed Turkiye’s diplomatic overtures with suspicion over Ankara’s close ties to Hamas and strongly opposes him joining the task force that is supposed to take power after Israeli troops withdraw from Gaza.
A Turkish disaster relief team, sent to assist in efforts to recover the remains of those trapped under rubble, including Israelis captured by Hamas, has been trapped at the border because Israel refused to let them in, according to Ankara.
Dar reaffirms its commitment to deepen cooperation with Türkiye in all areas
Earlier, Foreign Minister Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to deepening cooperation with Türkiye in the political, economic and defense spheres in a meeting with his Turkish counterpart, while agreeing to continue working together on the Palestine issue.
Dar held a bilateral meeting with Foreign Minister Fidan on the sidelines of the meeting, the FO said.
“During the meeting, the ministers expressed satisfaction over the positive trajectory of bilateral relations between Pakistan and Turkey and reaffirmed their shared commitment to further deepen cooperation in the political, economic and defense spheres.
“Both sides agreed to continue working together on the issue of Palestine, especially in establishing sustainable peace in Gaza.”
He added that both leaders reaffirmed the strong ties of brotherhood and mutual support that continue to underpin relations between Pakistan and Türkiye and agreed to maintain close coordination on regional and international issues.
Earlier in the day, the FO published in
It seems that Hamas is “determined” to maintain a truce: Erdogan
Hamas is “determined” to respect the truce, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said today, adding that it was crucial for Muslim nations to play a leading role in rebuilding Gaza.
“It seems that Hamas is quite determined to adhere to the agreement,” Erdogan told Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) delegates gathered in Istanbul for their annual economic summit.
He stressed that it was “essential” that the OIC “play a leading role in the reconstruction of Gaza.”
“Right now, we need to deliver more humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza and then begin reconstruction efforts. […] The Israeli government is doing everything in its power to prevent this,” Erdogan said.
On the eve of the meeting, Foreign Minister Fidan welcomed a Hamas delegation led by its chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya.
“We must end the carnage in Gaza. A ceasefire in itself is not enough,” Fidan said, defending a two-state solution to the intractable Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
“We must recognize that Gaza must be governed by the Palestinians and proceed with caution,” he added.
Additional information from AFP.
