Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated that international pressure on Israel is essential to advance the Gaza peace plan and halt its violations. Fidan remarked, "The pressure on Israel and preventing its violations is the mandatory path to move to the second phase of the peace plan." Meanwhile, Nickolay Mladenov, the Board of Peace's lead envoy for Gaza, expressed optimism regarding a disarmament plan for Hamas and other militant groups in the territory. He assessed that an agreement on implementation could be reached within "a matter of days, maximum a couple of weeks," warning that momentum would otherwise be lost. U.S. President Donald Trump proposed the Board of Peace in September to oversee his plan to end Israel's war in Gaza. That plan, agreed upon by Israel and Hamas in October, envisions Israeli troops withdrawing from Gaza and reconstruction commencing as Hamas disarms.
Gaza Peace Plan Progress and Hurdles
Nickolay Mladenov, the Board of Peace's lead envoy for Gaza, indicated that discussions with Hamas have been challenging. "We've had some very serious discussions with Hamas over the last few weeks, they're not easy," Mladenov stated. Despite the difficulties, he expressed optimism about reaching a mutual understanding, saying, "I'm fairly optimistic that we will be able to come up with an arrangement that works for all sides and, most importantly, works for the people in Gaza." A key point of contention in talks to implement the plan and solidify the October cease-fire, which ended two years of conflict, involves Hamas' disarmament. Mladenov emphasized the urgency, noting, "We have a matter of days, maximum a couple of weeks, that is my assessment, because otherwise we will lose the momentum of what we have and then every decision will become even more difficult."
Work is currently underway on a detailed implementation plan, which includes provisions for disarmament, a new governance structure in Gaza, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces. Among the issues under discussion is the "yellow line" that delineates the territory Israel has occupied since the October cease-fire. Mladenov acknowledged the complexity of building trust, describing it as "a very complicated process" that requires "a lot of small steps to get us ultimately to an agreement on the full implementation of the plan." He further noted that "There's a whole set of issues that need to be handled on the ground, including the yellow line." The UN Security Council has recognized the Board of Peace, which is chaired by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Regional Destabilization Concerns
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan warned that Israel's expansionist policies are destabilizing the region and the world. Fidan explained that the tragic situations in Gaza and the West Bank, alongside the ongoing aggression that has displaced one million people in Lebanon, do not serve the security interests of either the region or Europe. These circumstances, he stated, contribute to exacerbating energy security crises and increasing irregular migration waves. Speaking at Oxford University on the 24th of the current month, Fidan asserted that Israel's attempts to destabilize the region have exceeded their local scope and now pose a direct threat to global security.
Meanwhile, the Rafah crossing, which connects Gaza to Egypt, has seen an increase in activity. The number of people allowed to cross through the Rafah crossing has been gradually and carefully increased over the last few days. The last update on these developments was reported on 2026/04/29 at 11:19 PM.
Turkey's Broader Diplomatic Role
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan noted Turkey's mediation efforts aimed at stopping the Russian-Ukrainian war. Ankara is also making efforts to ensure quick results in the ongoing negotiations between Tehran and Washington. Fidan expressed hope for the success of the talks that began in Islamabad.
Regarding Turkey's relationship with the European Union, Fidan affirmed that Ankara's position on joining the European Union remains firm. He stated that the problem lies in the lack of political will within the European Union. Fidan additionally stressed the importance of Turkey joining European supply chain initiatives to enhance its economic efficiency.
Financial Backing for Peace Efforts
U.S. President Donald Trump announced in February that American allies have contributed over $7 billion to Gaza relief efforts, with the U.S. Pledging an additional $10 billion to the Board of Peace. Member states can secure permanent membership on the board by contributing $1 billion.