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A ceasefire in Gaza could be declared as soon as Wednesday if negotiators reach agreement on four key issues currently under discussion, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said.
"Right now, Israel and Hamas are negotiating indirectly in Egypt," Fidan said during a press conference in Ankara. "God willing, if a positive outcome emerges today, there are four targeted issues. If an agreement is reached today, a ceasefire will be declared."
The Turkish foreign minister's comments suggest that indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas in Egypt have advanced to a critical stage, with four specific matters remaining under discussion. Fidan did not specify what those four issues were.
His remarks indicate that a breakthrough in the talks could come imminently, with the potential for a ceasefire announcement later Wednesday depending on whether the parties can bridge their differences on the outstanding points.
Fidan made the comments during a joint press conference with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani, who was in Türkiye for a working visit. The two ministers met at the Foreign Ministry building in Ankara to discuss bilateral relations and regional developments.
Egypt has been hosting the indirect talks between Israel and Hamas as a mediator, with the parties negotiating through intermediaries rather than meeting face-to-face.
Fidan also said that given the situation in Syria, no terrorist group should pose a threat to Türkiye or any other country in the region.
Speaking at the joint press conference with Syrian counterpart Asaad al-Shaibani in Ankara, Fidan said: "Under the guise of fighting Daesh, the SDF, which pursues a divisive agenda, must abandon this equation."
The SDF is dominated by the YPG, the Syrian branch of the PKK. On March 10, the Syrian presidency announced an agreement to integrate the SDF into state institutions, emphasizing the country's territorial integrity and rejecting any separatist designs. The group, however, has violated the agreement more than once.
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