‘The Palestinian people must govern themselves and ensure their own security,’ declared Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan
Seven Muslim countries gathered this Monday (3) to discuss the future of calling for the territory to be governed exclusively by Palestinians and rejecting any form of external guardianship. “The Palestinian people must govern themselves and ensure their own security,” declared Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan after meeting with his counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Pakistan and Indonesia. He also highlighted the “urgent” need for reconstruction and return of displaced people, without imposing “a new guardianship system”. Fidan also expressed his desire for a quick “reconciliation” between the Islamist movement Hamas and the Palestinian Authority of Mahmud Abbas, which would allow, according to him, “to strengthen Palestinian representation in the international community”.
The ministers of the seven countries, all members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), were received by the American president, at the end of September in New York, on the sidelines of the General Assembly, six days before the presentation of the American peace plan. During the meeting of the OIC Standing Committee for Economic Cooperation, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized Israel’s “mediocre” attitude since the beginning of the ceasefire on October 10 in Gaza, and highlighted that Hamas “seems committed” to the agreement.
Erdogan urged “bringing more humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza and starting reconstruction”, calling on the Arab League and the OIC to take a “leading role”. Before the meeting, Fidan received a Hamas delegation on Saturday led by Khalil al-Hayya, the movement’s chief negotiator. The Turkish Foreign Minister indicated that the creation of an international stabilization force in Gaza, in which Turkey wants to participate, will require time.
However, Israel, which considers Turkey very close to , has repeatedly expressed its rejection of that country’s participation in the international stabilization force in Gaza. According to Donald Trump’s plan – on which the truce was based – this force would be made up of troops from Arab and Muslim countries, and would be deployed as Israeli forces withdraw.
However, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar warned that only countries considered “impartial” will be able to join it. As a demonstration of distrust, a Turkish rescue team sent to collaborate in the search for bodies in Gaza – including Israelis – continues to await authorization to enter Palestinian territory, according to Ankara.
*With information from AFP
Published by Fernando Dias
