Turkish FM reports "significant progress" in Gaza ceasefire talks

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has announced “significant progress” in negotiations aimed at securing a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

Fidan indicated that an agreement could be reached during today's talks, Caliber.Az reports, citing Turkish media.

“Negotiations have entered a new phase. If an agreement is reached today, a ceasefire will be declared in Gaza,” he said.

Fidan added that any positive outcome could represent the first step towards a comprehensive settlement.

According to the Turkish foreign minister, the discussions are focused on four key issues: the ceasefire itself, the exchange of hostages and prisoners, the delivery of humanitarian aid, and the timetable for Israeli troop withdrawals from the enclave.

Earlier, Hamas handed over lists of hostages and Palestinian prisoners on October 8 as part of proposed swap talks, expressing cautious optimism over efforts to end the conflict in Gaza. U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and special envoy are expected to join the discussions.

The Palestinian militant group said negotiations were focused on halting the fighting, arranging the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and finalising the prisoner swap. Officials described the talks, based in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh since October 6, as the closest diplomats have come to a potential ceasefire.

A key sticking point remains pressure on Hamas to disarm, which the group has so far refused to address, according to a Palestinian source familiar with the discussions.

The timing for implementing the first phase of Trump’s 20-point initiative has yet to be agreed.

By Aghakazim Guliyev