Türkiye offers to host released Palestinian prisoners, calls Trump's approach to relocation "inhumane"

Türkiye has expressed readiness to house Palestinian prisoners from Gaza on its territory once they are released under the terms of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan made this announcement in Doha, Caliber.Az reports citing Turkish media, following talks with Qatari Prime and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on February 2.

"One of the conditions of the ceasefire agreement [in Gaza] stipulates that certain Palestinian prisoners, after their release, must not remain in Palestinian territories. Our president [Recep Tayyip Erdoğan] has stated that, along with other countries, we are ready to accept the freed Palestinians. Other nations will also contribute to implementing this agreement," Fidan stated.

He further emphasized that the ceasefire in Gaza should become permanent and that humanitarian aid must be delivered to the region without interruption.

"Our priorities are ensuring a lasting ceasefire in Gaza and the uninterrupted flow of humanitarian aid to the region. We see occasional difficulties in taking necessary steps in this direction. Israel must abandon its destructive stance as soon as possible, and the international community should respond sensitively to this issue," the Turkish minister urged. He added that Ankara is coordinating humanitarian aid efforts for Gaza with regional countries, including Egypt.

Fidan also strongly opposed US President Donald Trump’s proposal to relocate displaced Palestinians from Gaza "temporarily or long-term" to other countries for the purposes of conducting reconstructions works in the Strip.

"We are firmly against the expulsion of the Palestinian people from their land. This proposal reflects an inhumane approach," he said, a position which echoes that of the Arab League, as well as the six Arab participants at the Cairo conference from February 1.

Additionally, the Turkish Foreign Minister reiterated Türkiye's support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, warning that without such a resolution, renewed conflicts would continue to haunt the region.

By Nazrin Sadigova