Turkish-US foreign ministers discussed ceasefire talks between Hamas and Israel

CONSTANTINOPLE:

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and his American counterpart Antony Blinken discussed the latest status of ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas on Wednesday.

In a phone call requested by the US side, Fidan and Blinken also discussed developments in the region, a Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

The US, Egypt and Qatar announced last week, after ceasefire talks in Doha, that they had presented Israel and Hamas with what they called a “bridging proposal” to further bridge “remaining gaps in the way which allows for the rapid implementation of the agreement”. .”

Hamas has criticized the proposal, arguing that it aligns with Netanyahu’s conditions, including his rejection of a permanent ceasefire, a full withdrawal from Gaza and his insistence on continuing to occupy the Netzarim junction (which separates the north and south part of the Gaza Strip). the Rafa border crossing and the Philadelphia corridor.

Biden said in May that Israel presented a three-phase deal that would end hostilities in Gaza and secure the release of hostages held in the coastal enclave. The plan includes a ceasefire, a hostage-prisoner exchange, the withdrawal of the Israeli army from Gaza, an increase in aid and a definitive end to hostilities.

Israel continued its brutal assault on the Gaza Strip following the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas.

The conflict has resulted in more than 40,170 Palestinian deaths, mostly women and children, and more than 92,740 injuries, according to local health authorities.

The ongoing blockade of Gaza has led to severe shortages of food, clean water and medicine, leaving much of the area in ruins.

Israel is facing charges of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which ordered a halt to military operations in the southern city of Rafah, where more than a million Palestinians had taken refuge before the May 6 invasion of the area.