Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on October 7th that former US President Donald Trump had specifically requested Turkey to persuade Hamas to accept a peace plan for the Gaza Strip. Erdogan revealed, "During both my visit to the US and our most recent phone call, we explained to US President Donald Trump how to achieve a solution to the Palestinian issue. He specifically asked us to meet Hamas and persuade them."

This request comes amid ongoing indirect negotiations between delegations from Israel and Hamas in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm El-Sheikh. These talks aim to end the two-year conflict in the Gaza Strip and are based on a 20-point plan proposed by Trump last month. Senior officials from Qatar, Turkey, and the US are participating as mediators in these discussions.

The 20-point plan outlines several key requirements: a ceasefire, the release of hostages in the Gaza Strip and Palestinian prisoners within 72 hours of an agreed deal, the disarmament of Hamas, and the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the strip. The proposal also suggests that a post-conflict transitional administration would be overseen by a "Peace Council," an agency chaired by the US President.

Erdogan, a strong supporter of the Palestinian movement and closely linked to Hamas, emphasized Hamas's reported willingness for peace. He stated, "Hamas responded that they are ready for peace and negotiations. They do not hold an adversarial position. I consider this a valuable step, with Hamas taking a proactive stance compared to Israel." He further added that Turkey has maintained continuous contact with Hamas throughout the process.

President Erdogan speaks at an event in Istanbul on 6/10. Photo: AFP

The Turkish President also outlined his vision for the future of Gaza, insisting that the Gaza Strip must be part of a Palestinian State and administered by Palestinians in all post-war scenarios. He called for detailed discussions on plans for deploying foreign forces to Gaza and ensuring security in the strip, affirming Turkey's readiness to contribute to all efforts. The White House has not yet commented on this information.

Huyen Le (According to AFP, Reuters)