Istanbul, Turkey – November 3, 2025 – In a high-stakes diplomatic gathering amid escalating tensions over Gaza's fragile truce, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan hosted senior diplomats from Indonesia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Qatar at a luxury hotel in Istanbul on Monday. The closed-door meeting, which commenced with a symbolic family photo, aimed to reinforce the U.S.-brokered ceasefire that took effect on October 10, 2025, while addressing dire humanitarian shortages and charting a path toward lasting peace under Palestinian administration.
The assembly follows a leaders' summit on September 23, 2025, in New York, where heads of state from the same nations met U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). That earlier encounter produced a joint statement endorsing a comprehensive reconstruction plan for Gaza, rooted in initiatives from the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). It emphasized international backing for reformed Palestinian leadership, stability at West Bank and Jerusalem holy sites, and collaborative efforts to rebuild Palestinian lives in the devastated enclave.
Monday's talks, described by Turkish diplomatic sources as a direct follow-up to the UNGA discussions, focused on the ceasefire's implementation challenges. The October 10 agreement, hailed as a milestone in ending Israel's two-year war on Gaza – which has claimed over 68,000 Palestinian lives and wounded more than 170,000 since October 2023 – mandated an immediate halt to hostilities, partial Israeli troop withdrawals to a "yellow line" demarcation, hostage releases, and surged humanitarian aid. Hamas released all remaining living hostages and began returning deceased ones, while Israel freed nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. Daily aid convoys were promised at 600 trucks, with Rafah crossing reopenings under international oversight.
Yet, the truce has teetered on collapse multiple times. Since October 10, Israeli forces have conducted airstrikes and ground incursions, killing at least 211 Palestinians and injuring 597, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Notable escalations included October 19 strikes killing 26 after an alleged Hamas violation harmed Israeli soldiers, and a deadlier October 28-29 barrage claiming 104 lives, including 46 children, following disputes over hostage remains. Israel accused Hamas of staging incidents and using civilians as shields; Hamas denied involvement, labeling strikes as premeditated breaches. U.S. officials, including President Trump, intervened repeatedly, pressuring both sides to resume compliance while establishing a Civil-Military Coordination Center in Israel to monitor the deal.
Minister Fidan, posing alongside Indonesia's Sugiono, Pakistan's Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Saudi Arabia's Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Jordan's Ayman Safadi, UAE's Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar, and Qatar's Soltan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi, is expected to lambast Israel for "seeking pretexts" to derail the truce. Diplomatic sources indicate he will urge the international community to confront these "provocations" decisively, warning that unchecked violations risk reigniting full-scale war. Fidan plans to highlight insufficient aid deliveries – far below the 600-truck pledge – and Israel's failure to uphold obligations, insisting uninterrupted flow is a "humanitarian and legal necessity" demanding heightened pressure on Tel Aviv.
A core agenda item: accelerating Palestinian self-governance in Gaza. Fidan will advocate swift arrangements for Palestinians to handle security and administration, free from external occupation. This aligns with the September joint statement's call for Gaza's reconstruction via Arab-OIC frameworks, bolstered by global funding and Palestinian Authority reforms. Discussions will explore an "international stabilization force" to monitor the ceasefire, potentially under a UN Security Council mandate, though Israel opposes Turkish involvement due to Ankara's vocal criticism of its actions.
Fidan is also poised to reaffirm the two-state solution as the sole viable path, safeguarding Palestinian rights while maintaining consultations at the UN. Coordinated Muslim-world action, he will argue, is essential to transform the ceasefire into enduring peace. "The importance of Muslim countries acting in coordination cannot be overstated," a Turkish source quoted him as preparing to say.
The meeting's urgency stems from Gaza's catastrophic toll. Israel's campaign, triggered by Hamas's October 7, 2023, attacks killing 1,139 in Israel, has razed infrastructure, displaced nearly all 2.3 million residents, and induced famine-like conditions in parts of the Strip. UN agencies report aid blockages persist, with convoys halted amid "yellow line" disputes and unexploded ordnance hazards. Recovery efforts, including food distribution and medical kits for women, have begun under UN oversight, but rubble-strewn landscapes complicate hostage remains recovery – a flashpoint in recent violations.
Preceding the summit, Fidan met Hamas political bureau members in Istanbul on November 1, discussing truce adherence and aid needs – underscoring Turkey's mediating role. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, addressing the nation, praised Hamas's compliance while decrying Israel's "poor record."
As ministers deliberated, Gaza residents navigated a "new normal" of tentative calm shadowed by fear. Displaced families return to ruined homes, searching debris for belongings or loved ones, while civil defense teams clear sites of overnight strikes. In northern Beit Lahia and southern Rafah, "yellow line" ambiguities have sparked deadly confrontations.
The Istanbul outcome could shape phase two of Trump's 20-point plan: full Israeli withdrawal, Hamas disarmament, and multibillion-dollar rebuilding funded by Gulf states. Participants aim to unify strategies for Western engagements, countering Israeli objections to force compositions.
With over 68,643 Palestinians dead and Gaza's economy obliterated, the meeting underscores a pivotal moment. As one diplomat noted, "This is not just about holding a truce – it's about building a future where Palestinians govern their destiny." Failure risks unraveling hard-won gains, plunging the region back into chaos.
