Turkey to Host Muslim Nations’ Foreign Ministers Meeting on US Gaza Peace Plan in Istanbul Monday

Turkey is set to host a high-level meeting of foreign ministers from several Muslim-majority countries in Istanbul on Monday to discuss the U.S. peace plan for Gaza, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Fidan said the meeting aims to “evaluate our progress and discuss what we can achieve together in the next stage,” as diplomatic efforts continue to seek a lasting resolution to the Gaza conflict.

According to the Turkish foreign ministry, invitations have been extended to foreign ministers from Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The same group previously met with U.S. President Donald Trump on September 23 during the UN General Assembly session in New York to deliberate on peace efforts for the Middle East.

During a joint press conference with his Estonian counterpart, Margus Tsahkna, Fidan said, “A glimmer of hope emerged, offering optimism for everyone.” However, he emphasized that significant challenges remain, noting that the Istanbul meeting will address key questions such as the obstacles to implementing the peace plan, the next diplomatic steps, coordination with Western partners, and the level of support for ongoing talks with the United States.

Fidan also strongly criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of “looking for a pretext to violate the ceasefire in Gaza and relaunch the genocide under the eyes of the whole world.”

Turkey recently deployed an 81-member disaster response team to Gaza to assist with search and rescue efforts, but the group remains at the border awaiting Israeli authorization to enter the territory. Fidan confirmed that Ankara is “working intensively” on gaining approval and that the Turkish military is in discussions regarding participation in an international peacekeeping force to oversee the ceasefire.

However, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar rejected the idea of Turkish involvement, citing Ankara’s critical stance toward Israel. “It is not reasonable for us to let their armed forces enter the Gaza Strip, and we will not agree to that,” Saar stated, adding that Israel had conveyed its position to its American counterparts.

The upcoming meeting in Istanbul is expected to play a key role in shaping the next phase of diplomatic efforts among Muslim nations and global partners seeking to stabilize the situation in Gaza and push forward a workable peace framework.