Istanbul: Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated that the countries participating in the planned “International Stabilization Force” for the Gaza Strip will decide later whether to send troops, depending on the nature and mandate of the force. Speaking to reporters after a ministerial meeting in Istanbul with the participation of foreign ministers from seven countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, and the UAE, Fidan described the current stage as “extremely sensitive,” stressing that the participating states are “united in rejecting the resumption of genocide in Gaza and fully supporting the continuation of the ceasefire as a step toward lasting peace based on the two-state solution.”

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Fidan noted that the meeting discussed arrangements related to the administration and security of Gaza, adding that the Hamas movement has expressed readiness to hand over the administration of the Strip to a Palestinian committee, while efforts continue to define the mandate and composition of the expected international stabilization force.

Fidan criticized Israel for failing to fully comply with the ceasefire agreement and for obstructing the delivery of humanitarian aid, pointing out that it has “killed around 250 civilians since the announcement of the truce.”

The Turkish minister affirmed that Ankara is ready to assume its responsibilities in supporting peace and the reconstruction of Gaza, emphasizing that any international force must derive its legitimacy from a UN Security Council resolution defining its powers and scope, and that the final settlement must be based on the establishment of a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders.