UPDATE - Turkish foreign minister pushes for phase 2 of Gaza deal amid ceasefire violations, says can join stabilization force

UPDATES HEADLINE; ADDS MORE REMARKS BY FIDAN & EDITS THROUGOUT

By Gizem Nisa Demir

ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Türkiye is pressing for the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement to start as violations continue to mount, warning that renewed violence could spread beyond the enclave while stressing Türkiye’s readiness to contribute to international stabilization efforts.

Speaking to national broadcaster TRT World in an interview that aired Thursday, Fidan said Türkiye and other countries want the ceasefire to advance to its second phase, which includes a planned international stabilization force, a peace board to oversee governance in Gaza, and executive mechanisms for day-to-day administration.

“There are now some talks away from the public eyes,” he said. “The discussions are mostly around the combination of the peace board and international stabilization force, and the daily execution of the work.”

“I think over the next couple of weeks, we will see some preliminary, clear results of those discussions,” Fidan added, noting that Türkiye is closely monitoring developments on the ground and communicating ceasefire violations to relevant partners.

Warning of wider consequences should these efforts fail, he said: “Otherwise … we can go back to the horror days, the butchering of the people, the mass murdering, the genocide. Not only this time maybe in Gaza … God forbid we might see the same thing in (the) West Bank, too.”

-Gaza ceasefire very ‘precious,’ but violations continue

The current ceasefire is “very much precious for us because we've seen the horror, the human tragedy, the genocide that took place in Gaza over the last two years,” since Israel began its genocide on Oct. 7, 2023, Fidan said, adding that Türkiye worked “so hard to reach a ceasefire.”

He pointed to diplomatic engagements by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, including talks with US President Donald Trump in New York in September, as a key turning point.

“President Trump, I think, came to realize that this is very serious,” Fidan said, adding that Washington had to act together with regional countries.

Despite the truce, Fidan added that “there are constant violations of (the) ceasefire,” noting that “since the declaration of the ceasefire (this Oct. 10), almost 400 Palestinians have been killed and still the Palestinians are continuing to honoring the ceasefire,”

He called the situation “very much frustrating.”

Fidan also said humanitarian aid levels remain insufficient despite clear provisions in the ceasefire framework on civilian protection and assistance.

-Türkiye ready to join stabilization force despite Israeli objections

Fidan reaffirmed that Türkiye is ready to participate in an international stabilization force for Gaza, despite objections from Israel, whose Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has described Türkiye as a hostile actor.

“Türkiye has been the voice of the human conscience, the international conscience, in the face of the Israeli atrocities in Palestine,” Fidan said, accusing Israel of being unaccustomed to international criticism after decades of what he described as impunity.

“Israel is not the only relevant actor here,” he said, adding that Türkiye is engaging with other partners and remains prepared to contribute militarily, humanitarianly, and technically if needed.

“If somebody else can come and do the same thing … in favor of humanity and humanitarian values in Gaza, we are fine by that,” Fidan said. “But if our assistance is very much needed, we are also ready to contribute.”

-Syria: ISIS threat manageable with regional cooperation

Turning to Syria, Fidan said terrorist group ISIS (Daesh) remains a serious threat but can be contained through coordinated regional action, stressing that Türkiye and Syria now have “a healthy cooperation right now” following the end of the civil war this time last year.

“Türkiye has been a very experienced country in the region in counter-terrorism,” he said, citing its decades of fighting PKK terrorism.

He added that Syria’s new authorities have joined the International Coalition Against ISIS, signing relevant documents in Washington, DC last month. “We should never allow any terrorist element to derail the Syrian people and state on its way to recovery,” Fidan said.

Fidan also warned that delays in integrating the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into the new Syrian security framework threaten national unity.

“We are not happy with the speed of the process” of integration, he said, adding that patience among relevant actors “is running out.”

He stressed that all armed groups must fall under the authority of Syria’s Defense Ministry, warning that parallel military structures undermine sovereignty. “(The) SDF should understand… their commitment to the Agreement of 10th of March should be honored,” he said.

-‘Very close’ to deal on Ukriane war

On the Russia–Ukraine war, Fidan said Türkiye supports US-led mediation efforts and believes the sides are nearing an agreement.

“They are very close to reach a deal now,” he said, crediting Trump and his team for intensifying mediation efforts and noting growing European engagement.

Any agreement, he said, would ultimately need legitimacy among the Ukrainian public, possibly through parliamentary or public mechanisms.

Fidan also warned that escalating attacks in the Black Sea threaten regional stability, citing drone incursions, attacks on commercial shipping, and earlier incidents involving drifting naval mines.

Citing Türkiye’s role in brokering the 2022 Black Sea grain deal, which enabled the exports of about 30 million tons of grain, mainly to Africa, he stressed that maritime security remains critical for global food supplies.

“The shortest way to put an end to all these problems is to reach a ceasefire,” he said, warning that continued escalation could spread to other parts of Europe.

-Cyprus: EU presidency an opportunity

Asked about the six-month EU presidency of the Greek Cypriots, set to start on Jan. 1, Fidan said it could also be an opportunity, urging a break from what he called outdated approaches.

“The two-state solution right now … is the only realistic solution on the island,” he said, calling for an end to the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots and greater regional cooperation.