Ankara: Turkiye is working with the United States and Arab mediators to secure safe passage for Hamas fighters holed up in tunnels in the Israel-controlled area of Gaza, according to a Palestinian source, a Hamas official, and Turkish officials on Monday.
The fate of roughly 200 Hamas fighters has become a sticking point in efforts to advance Gaza ceasefire negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian militant group to a new stage aimed at achieving a permanent end to the two-year conflict.
A Palestinian source involved in the mediation efforts said Turkiye has joined Egypt, Qatar, and the United States in talks over the future of the holed-up fighters. Two Turkish officials, including the spokesperson for President Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling AK Party, confirmed that Ankara is participating in the mediation process concerning the 200 Palestinians but declined to provide further details.
Last week, US envoy Steve Witkoff described the standoff as a “test case” for the broader ceasefire plan, suggesting that a possible resolution could involve granting the fighters safe passage to Hamas-controlled areas of Gaza.
A Hamas official, who requested anonymity, confirmed Turkiye’s role as a mediator but refrained from elaborating on the talks, citing the sensitivity of the security issue.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office has not responded to requests for comment on Turkiye’s involvement.
According to two sources last week, Hamas fighters holed up in the Israeli-held Rafah region of Gaza had expressed readiness to surrender their weapons in exchange for safe passage to other parts of the territory.
While Hamas has not officially disclosed the number of fighters holed up, the group has consistently demanded that they be allowed to move to areas under its control, a condition Israel has so far resisted.
Turkiye, which maintains close ties with Hamas and has been a vocal critic of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, was a signatory to the US-backed Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal.