Turkish FM to visit Cairo for talks on Gaza crisis

Türkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is set to visit Cairo on 9 August for high-level discussions with Egyptian officials, including President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

The visit will primarily focus on the ongoing situation in the Gaza Strip, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

Sources within the Turkish Foreign Ministry said that during the trip, Minister Fidan is expected to meet with President al-Sisi to discuss both bilateral relations and international issues.

The talks will include an exchange of views on the progress of ceasefire negotiations between Hamas and Israel, which are being mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry also highlighted plans to discuss joint efforts aimed at ending the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and ensuring the uninterrupted delivery of aid to the region.

Earlier, Israel’s security cabinet had approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan for the military occupation of Gaza City, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict. The plan involves Israeli forces taking control of Gaza City, located in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, while purportedly providing humanitarian aid outside active combat zones, according to a statement from Netanyahu’s office.

The security cabinet’s resolution now awaits approval from the full government, which is expected to meet on August 10. Reports indicate the operation will include forcibly displacing all Palestinian civilians from Gaza City to central camps and other areas by October 7.

A siege will be imposed on Hamas militants remaining in the city, combined with a ground offensive.

Netanyahu has stated that Israel does not intend to govern Gaza but seeks to establish a security perimeter, planning to hand over responsibility to an unspecified third party. The move follows previous reports that Israel aims to occupy the entire Gaza Strip.

The plan has drawn sharp criticism both domestically and internationally. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the escalation as “wrong,” warning it would only lead to further bloodshed without ending the conflict or securing the release of hostages.

Hamas denounced Netanyahu’s comments as a betrayal of ceasefire negotiations, accusing him of sacrificing prisoners for personal and ideological goals.

By Aghakazim Guliyev