Foreign ministers from several Muslim-majority countries gathered in Istanbul on Monday to discuss the fragile ceasefire in Gaza, as both Israel and Hamas accuse each other of violations. The talks, hosted by Turkey, aim to advance the U.S.-brokered truce and explore forming an international force to monitor its implementation.
Ministers from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Pakistan, and Indonesia are attending, according to Turkey’s foreign ministry. Their leaders had earlier met with U.S. President Donald Trump in New York in September to endorse the ceasefire plan.
Why It Matters
The ceasefire, in place since October 10, has halted large-scale fighting but left major issues unresolved including Hamas’ disarmament and a timeline for Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza. With violence flaring intermittently, regional powers are under pressure to ensure the truce holds and pave the way for longer-term stability.
Turkey: Seeks a central role in ceasefire monitoring and has accused Israel of violating the truce.
Israel: Denies wrongdoing, says its actions are in self-defence, and opposes Turkish participation in the monitoring force.
Hamas: Accused by Israel of breaches but backed by Ankara as compliant with the deal.
United States: Broker of the ceasefire and supporter of an international stabilization force.
Arab and Muslim States: Push for humanitarian access and protection of Palestinians amid uncertainty over the truce’s durability.
What’s Next
The Istanbul meeting is expected to focus on establishing a UN-mandated mechanism to monitor the ceasefire. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan reiterated that Ankara would resist any Israeli attempts to annex the West Bank or alter the status of Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Diplomats say progress will depend on whether Israel agrees to include Muslim-majority states in the monitoring force and whether the U.N. Security Council can approve a mandate before renewed violence undermines the deal.
With information from Reuters.
