Gaza Peace Board membership likely to expand, says Turkish FM

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has said that the number of countries participating in the Board of Peace focused on Gaza could eventually rise to between 25 and 30.

Fidan noted that the council currently consists of 19 members, with several additional countries expected to join once ongoing procedural issues are resolved, NTV reports.

He explained that member states are awaiting the completion of consultations involving Germany, while some prospective participants have requested additional time before making a final decision.

“I believe that another six or seven countries will join, which would bring the total number of participants to 25–30,” Fidan said.

Earlier, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz indicated Germany’s willingness to join the Board of Peace, an initiative launched by US President Donald Trump. However, he stressed that Berlin could not accept the board’s existing governance structure in its current form.

Fidan also emphasized that Türkiye continues to closely coordinate its efforts on the Palestinian issue with Turkic states, including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Azerbaijan, all of which are board members. He added that the group also includes countries from Europe and Latin America.

“We will make every possible effort to advance the Palestinian agenda,” Fidan said, while cautioning that the process would be complex. He noted that the conflict is entering a phase in which it is shifting toward negotiations, bringing together countries with divergent views and competing agendas.

“This marks a transition to a new level of struggle,” he added.

By Vafa Guliyeva