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Türkiye has taken on a crucial behind-the-scenes role in efforts to revive Gaza ceasefire negotiations, encouraging Hamas to re-engage with international mediators as President Donald Trump voiced support for Israel's continued military pressure on the militant group.
A senior Hamas delegation that had been in Türkiye for two weeks returned to Cairo on Monday for talks with Egyptian intelligence officials, marking a potential breakthrough in stalled negotiations over a ceasefire and hostage exchange deal.
The Hamas officials had fled to Türkiye after talks collapsed in Qatar two weeks ago, with sources saying the delegation complained to Turkish officials about how Qatari mediators handled the negotiations. However, Turkish authorities encouraged Hamas to resume contact with Egyptian and Qatari mediators to pursue a deal.
"The Turks have been very helpful," an Israeli official told Axios, highlighting Türkiye's unexpected diplomatic contribution to the crisis despite its historically tense relationship with Israel.
Türkiye's mediation efforts come as Trump declined to explicitly endorse Israel's planned offensive against Gaza City but said Hamas cannot remain in the territory. "I have one thing to say: remember October 7, remember October 7," Trump told Axios on Monday, referencing the Hamas attack that triggered the current conflict.
The president said Israel must decide its next steps regarding Hamas's presence in Gaza, but added his view that "they can't stay there." Trump's comments followed what he described as a "good call" with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday.
According to Netanyahu's office, the leaders "discussed Israel's plans to take control of the remaining Hamas strongholds in Gaza in order to bring an end to the war through the release of the hostages and the defeat of Hamas."
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Netanyahu announced Sunday that he had asked the army to present plans for "taking over" Gaza City. Israeli officials indicated the planning and civilian evacuation process could take several weeks, creating a window for diplomatic efforts that Türkiye is now helping to facilitate.
While in Türkiye, Hamas officials were reportedly briefed on various diplomatic initiatives and encouraged to maintain flexibility in negotiations. Turkish officials emphasized the importance of preventing further civilian casualties while working toward a sustainable ceasefire arrangement.
The Turkish intervention comes as other international mediators work to revive talks. White House envoy Steve Witkoff met with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman al-Thani over the weekend in Ibiza, Spain, to discuss a comprehensive deal that would end the war and free all hostages.
Qatari and Egyptian mediators are now developing a new proposal building on Witkoff's framework for a partial 60-day ceasefire. To create a comprehensive agreement, they plan to include additional provisions addressing post-war arrangements in Gaza.
Türkiye's diplomatic engagement comes as a part of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's broader strategy of positioning the country as a regional power broker. Despite tensions with Israel over Gaza, Turkish officials have maintained that sustainable peace requires dialogue with all parties to the conflict.
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