Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is set to visit Saudi Arabia on Sunday and Monday as part of the Islamic Conference's efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, according to diplomatic sources.
Hakan Fidan © X
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is set to visit Saudi Arabia on Sunday and Monday as part of the Islamic Conference's efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, according to diplomatic sources.
During his trip to Riyadh, Minister Fidan will engage with members of the Contact Group formed by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Arab League. This meeting aims to halt the ongoing violence in Gaza and establish a lasting peace in the region.
This diplomatic initiative follows more than five months of conflict, after which the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution on March 25, calling for an "immediate ceasefire." However, this resolution has yet to be implemented on the ground.
In addition to his meetings in Saudi Arabia, the Contact Group is expected to engage with foreign ministers from several Western countries, though further details have not been specified.
Recently, Fidan visited Qatar, a mediator between Israel and the Palestinian movement Hamas, in an effort to end the conflict sparked by the Israeli army following the massacres on October 7 in southern Israel.
Another priority discussed during these diplomatic efforts is ensuring that humanitarian aid reaches Gaza urgently and without interruption. Turkey has been at the forefront, being one of the first countries to send aid to the Palestinian populations in Gaza. This includes thirteen ships and nine boats carrying 50,000 tons of aid and drinking water.
Minister Fidan's trip underscores Turkey's active role in seeking resolutions to the Gaza conflict and highlights the broader regional efforts towards peace and stability.
Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince and de facto ruler, Mohammed bin Salman, called Iran's newly elected President Massoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday to congratulate him on his recent election victory, according to Saudi state media reports.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told his U.S. counterpart that military operations in the Gaza Strip have created conditions that would enable a hostage deal to be reached, Gallant's office said on Wednesday.
A meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the Middle East was briefly interrupted on Wednesday when two protesters stood with signs and yelled for the release of Israeli hostages held by Palestinian militants Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
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