On this week’s episode of Context, Dilek Tuna speaks with guests about Gaza ceasefire progress, Netanyahu’s reported relocation plan for Palestinians, and how regional diplomacy is evolving amid rising Israel-Iran tensions.
Ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas appear to be advancing, with nearly 90% of the terms reportedly agreed upon in Doha. However, just as diplomacy seems poised to deliver a breakthrough, a new element has cast a shadow over the process: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is said to be in talks with foreign governments about the possibility of accepting Palestinians who wish to leave Gaza.
This reported relocation plan, though still lacking formal details, is raising alarm across the region and beyond. Many observers fear that such a move could constitute forced displacement under the guise of “voluntary relocation,” a framing that may be designed to avoid international legal scrutiny.
Appearing on Context this week, Melih Demirtaş, a researcher and former diplomat from Cappadocia University in Ankara, highlighted the symbolic and strategic layers of Netanyahu’s second White House visit in a short span. “This suggests coordination at the highest level,” he noted, adding that U.S. political backing remains crucial to Israel’s military and diplomatic manoeuvring.
While the exact details of the final 10% of the Doha negotiations remain undisclosed, sticking points likely include the timeline and verification of Israeli troop withdrawals, as well as guarantees for sustained humanitarian access. When asked about possible verification mechanisms, Demirtaş admitted the issue remains “murky and undefined.”
Türkiye’s role in the process also came into focus. Though not a formal party to the talks, Ankara has publicly supported a ceasefire and may be engaging in quiet diplomacy behind the scenes. “Türkiye could position itself as a guarantor or mediator in a future phase,” Demirtaş said.
The Turkish government has yet to formally comment on the relocation reports, but analysts suggest that such a move would be deeply controversial in Ankara and across much of the region, given long-standing concerns about the forced displacement of Palestinians.
At the same time, a significant diplomatic development is emerging in the South Caucasus. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan are set to meet in Abu Dhabi. While the talks are aimed at normalising ties after decades of conflict, they also take place amid escalating tensions between Azerbaijan and Iran—tensions that have been magnified by the ongoing Israel-Iran standoff.
Demirtaş suggested the timing of the meeting is not coincidental. “There’s growing pressure on regional players to align or reassess their alliances as the broader geopolitical landscape shifts,” he noted.
As ceasefire talks move forward and new relocation narratives emerge, the broader question of Gaza’s future—and the fate of its people—remains far from resolved.
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Türkiye is reeling after a second school shooting in as many days, after a 14-year-old student killed nine people - eight pupils and one teacher - and wounded 13 others at a middle school in the south-eastern province of Kahramanmaraş on Wednesday, officials said.
Kuwaiti authorities have detained U.S.-Kuwaiti journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, who has not been seen for six weeks, according to a media watchdog, as Gulf states intensify a crackdown on war-related filming and online posts.
Baku has hosted a major regional conference focused on strengthening the role of women in economic development, leadership and sustainability across Asia.
Turkish Defence Minister Yaşar Güler has warned that the ongoing regional conflict could escalate further, describing the Iran–U.S. ceasefire as “fragile.”
A preliminary round of Lebanon-Israel talks has concluded in Washington, marking a tentative diplomatic step as regional tensions rise. The development comes as the United States launches a naval blockade of Iranian ports.
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The U.S. and Iran could resume peace talks over the next couple of days, U.S. President Donald Trump has said. Talks between Israel and Lebanon were held in Washington yesterday. Fuel prices have dropped below $100 a barrel. U.S. blockade on Iranian ports completes first day.
A now-deleted artificial intelligence (AI) generated image by the U.S. President has sparked immense backlash across the political divide. It comes as Trump and the Pope continue their fued over the U.S.-led war in the Middle East.
Relations between China and Russia are gaining fresh momentum, with recent developments highlighting closer military and diplomatic cooperation.
France is set to vote on a controversial law targeting what it calls “new forms” of antisemitism, sparking sharp divisions and raising concerns over free speech, criticism of Israel and the protection of Jewish communities.
Hungary’s election winner, Péter Magyar, said on Wednesday his cabinet could be sworn in by mid-May, with Magyar taking office as prime minister, and pledged swift action to unlock billions in suspended European Union funding.
A former NATO chief and senior figure the UK's ruling Labour Party has launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Keir Starmer, accusing his government of failing to adequately fund defence.
Russia has signalled it is ready to increase energy supplies to China, underscoring deepening ties between the two powers ahead of an expected visit by President Vladimir Putin.
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