Turkey Rallies Muslim Allies in Istanbul to Push Gaza Reconstruction and Palestinian Governance

Turkey convenes Islamic foreign ministers to press for Gaza reconstruction

Turkey on Monday hosted senior diplomats from across the Islamic world in Istanbul as it seeks to coordinate international support for Gaza's reconstruction and press for greater Palestinian control over the territory's security and governance. The gathering comes amid concerns that the fragile ceasefire reached on October 10 in the two-year Israel-Hamas war remains under strain from continuing hostilities.

Diplomatic push and U.S. ties

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan invited counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Pakistan and Indonesia for talks scheduled to begin in the afternoon. Turkish officials say Ankara will urge the ministers to back proposals that would see Palestinians assume primary responsibility for Gaza's security and civil administration as part of longer-term stabilization and reconstruction efforts.

Many of the visiting ministers recently met U.S. officials on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly, shortly before a U.S.-backed plan to manage the post-hostilities transition was unveiled. Ankara hopes to channel collective diplomatic weight behind a reconstruction roadmap prepared by the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

Engagement with Hamas and humanitarian access

At the weekend, Fidan welcomed a Hamas delegation led by Khalil al-Hayya, the movement's chief negotiator, highlighting Turkey's active diplomatic engagement with Palestinian representatives. "We must end the massacre in Gaza. A ceasefire in itself is not enough," Fidan said, adding that "Gaza should be governed by the Palestinians."

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told an OIC meeting in Istanbul that Hamas appeared committed to the truce while blaming Israel for repeated breaches. He urged Muslim states to take "a leading role" in recovery and called for immediate implementation of the reconstruction plan drafted by the Arab League and the OIC.

Tensions with Israel and aid obstacles

Turkey's ties with Hamas remain a major source of friction with Israel. Jerusalem has voiced suspicion of Ankara's diplomatic outreach and strongly opposes any Turkish role in an international peacekeeping force planned to oversee the ceasefire and stabilization phase following an Israeli military withdrawal.

Ankara also says a Turkish disaster-relief team dispatched to assist recovery operations — including efforts to retrieve bodies from rubble and remains of hostages — has been held at the Gaza border because Israel has not permitted entry, according to Turkish sources. Fidan is expected to press for expanded humanitarian access as aid agencies warn that convoys still lack sufficient access to relieve severe shortages in parts of Gaza.

Situation outlook: Turkey aims to translate diplomatic momentum into a concrete reconstruction and governance role for Palestinians, but deep regional divisions and security concerns mean the process will remain politically complex and fragile.