High-level diplomatic consultations were held in Istanbul, Türkiye, on Monday as Ankara seeks to solidify the fragile progress of the Gaza ceasefire and accelerate the delivery of life-saving assistance to the strip.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan welcomed a senior delegation from the Palestinian group Hamas to evaluate the implementation of the second phase of the peace agreement, a critical juncture that will determine the political and physical reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.
The meeting in Istanbul underscores Türkiye’s enduring role as a primary mediator between Palestinian factions and the international community.
According to diplomatic sources, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan utilised the session to brief the Hamas leadership on Ankara’s intensive diplomatic traffic across various multilateral platforms.
Central to these discussions was the operational framework of the "Board of Peace," a newly established international body designed to oversee the transition from active conflict to governance and stability.
This mechanism is viewed by Ankara as a vital tool for defending the fundamental rights of the people of Gaza while ensuring that the terms of the ceasefire are respected by all parties involved.
The "Board of Peace" represents a significant shift in the geopolitical management of the crisis. Established formally on 15 January by U.S. President Donald Trump, the board functions as the enforcement and oversight wing of the broader roadmap for Gaza.
Its legitimacy was cemented globally following the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2803 in November 2025, which mandated a coordinated international response to the post-war reality.
For Türkiye, the priority remains ensuring that this board does not merely serve as a security watchdog, but acts as a facilitator for Palestinian self-determination.
Fidan’s briefing highlighted the necessity of Hamas engaging constructively with this international architecture to prevent political isolation and to ensure that the Palestinian perspective remains central to the Board’s agenda.
The discussions in Istanbul are indicative of Ankara’s strategy to bridge the gap between Western policy frameworks and the realities on the ground in Gaza, advocating for a peace process that is both inclusive and sustainable.
Disarmament and reconstruction challenges
The focus of the talks weighed heavily on the intricacies of the second phase of the ceasefire agreement, which officially commenced on 10 October 2025.
This phase is arguably the most precarious stage of the peace roadmap, as it demands substantial concessions from both the Palestinian factions and the Israeli military.
The terms stipulate a complex process involving the disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups within the enclave, a condition that requires robust security guarantees which the Palestinian delegation is reportedly scrutinising closely.
Simultaneously, the agreement mandates a further, verifiable withdrawal of Israeli military forces from designated sectors of the Gaza Strip to allow for the free movement of civilians and the commencement of early recovery projects.
South Korea has said it will uphold its trade agreement with the U.S. despite President Donald Trump’s announcement of higher tariffs on South Korea...
Russian drones and missiles knocked out power in Kharkiv late Monday, while 23 people were wounded and an energy facility damaged in an overnight atta...
India and the European Union have finalised a long-pending trade deal, both sides said on Tuesday, calling it the “mother of all deals” as they se...
The Trump administration has signalled to Ukraine that U.S. security guarantees depend on Kyiv agreeing to a peace deal likely requiring it to cede th...
High-level diplomatic consultations were held in Istanbul, Türkiye, on Monday as Ankara seeks to solidify the fragile progress of the Gaza ceasefire ...
South Korea has said it will uphold its trade agreement with the U.S. despite President Donald Trump’s announcement of higher tariffs on South Korean goods.
France’s National Assembly has approved a bill banning access to social media for children under 15, a move backed by President Emmanuel Macron and the government as part of efforts to protect teenagers’ mental and physical health.
A routine military training exercise turned into a major recovery mission this week after a catastrophic mudslide swept through a hillside in West Java, Indonesia.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 27 January, covering the latest developments you need to know.
The UN Human Rights Council has condemned Iran for rights abuses and ordered an expanded investigation into a crackdown on anti-government protests that killed thousands, as Tehran warned any military attack would be treated as an all-out war.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has activated the state’s National Guard following the fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen in Minneapolis, an incident that has triggered protests and intensified tensions between state and federal authorities.
Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodriguez said on Sunday the country should not fear pursuing energy ties with the United States, as Caracas seeks to expand oil and gas production and attract foreign investment.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry has strongly rejected a U.S. magazine report on the death toll during January unrest. Nationwide protests erupted in response to soaring inflation and a national currency crisis.
A mosaic portrait of Pope Leo XIV was illuminated on Sunday at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome, continuing a centuries-old Vatican tradition marking the election of a new pope.
Azerbaijan’s State Security Service (SSS) has arrested three Azerbaijani citizens on suspicion of planning a terrorist attack against a foreign country’s embassy in Baku, authorities said.
Israel has recovered the remains of the last remaining hostage held in Gaza, the military said on Monday, fulfilling a key condition of the initial phase of U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to end the war in the Palestinian territory.
The death toll from nationwide protests in Iran has climbed to 6,126, according to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).
“What we've seen in the last few years is an expansion of all relations between Azerbaijan and Israel,” said Maurice Hirsch, from the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs. His remarks came as Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar visited Baku, Azerbaijan on 26 January.
Russia says it sees no preconditions for resuming political dialogue with Georgia. However, it has simultaneously praised the Georgian government, expanded economic ties, and openly questioned Georgia’s Western-looking aspirations.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment