黑料社区

The past week鈥檚 meetings, announcements and official visits have signaled an intensified regional effort to end the Israeli aggression in Gaza. From the meeting between US President Donald Trump and several regional leaders to the US鈥� 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza and from the intensified diplomatic contacts between Turkish and Arab officials to the Turkish foreign minister鈥檚 tour of Gulf states, there have been clear signs of the role Turkiye and regional states are set to assume in the coming days.

On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Trump spoke with the leaders of several Muslim and Arab nations, namely Qatar, 黑料社区, Turkiye, the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia and Pakistan, in a closed-door meeting. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described it as 鈥渇ruitful,鈥� while Trump said the countries that attended the meeting were 鈥渢he group that could do it (end the war in Gaza).鈥�

A few days after this meeting, Trump announced his 20-point peace plan. All eight countries that attended the meeting with the US president issued a joint statement welcoming the Gaza plan and expressing their readiness to help finalize it. Erdogan praised Trump鈥檚 leadership and expressed his support for the plan, while Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan had phone calls with his counterparts from 黑料社区 and Qatar to discuss it.

But what if Hamas were to accept the plan? That is when things might get tough for Netanyahu at home

Dr. Sinem Cengiz

Following the announcement, officials from Turkiye, Qatar and Egypt convened in Doha on Tuesday to encourage Hamas to give a positive response to Trump鈥檚 proposal. Fidan鈥檚 successor in Turkiye鈥檚 National Intelligence Organization, Ibrahim Kalin, was in Qatar to join Doha鈥檚 mediation efforts with Hamas. The presence of Kalin represented Turkiye鈥檚 official inclusion in the mediation talks, following several meetings between Erdogan and Trump. Fidan reportedly said that, while the US was tasked with persuading Israel to accept the plan, Turkiye and other regional players would focus on convincing the Palestinians.

Observers note that Hamas is likely to accept the plan, which is an option that Israel would not favor. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had made it clear that, if Hamas were to reject the plan, he had secured a guarantee from the US to do whatever he wants. This was also his guarantee to his own supporters, thinking that Hamas would likely decline the plan. But what if Hamas were to accept it? That is when things might get tough for Netanyahu at home, as he may lose the support he has garnered through his genocidal war in Gaza.

Despite the fact the plan is not a perfect one for Palestinians, it appears to be the final chance to end the bloodshed in Gaza 鈥� and this is what all the regional states want. For Turkiye and the other regional states, support for the US peace plan reflects the understanding that 鈥渁 bad peace is better than an ongoing war.鈥� That is why, despite all the uncertainties, Trump鈥檚 peace plan matters for all. Because there is no alternative for the region to end the bombardment, mass displacement and starvation of the people in Gaza.

Also, the plan matters because, for the first time, all regional states will be supporting Gaza through a military presence, as guarantors, and with funds they are expected to establish. Ankara and the other regional states see the plan as the first step toward a ceasefire with 鈥渃autious hope.鈥� So, at this stage, they are extending their support for this narrow yet open window for diplomacy and for progress on the path to peace.

Support for the US peace plan reflects the understanding that 鈥榓 bad peace is better than an ongoing war鈥�

Dr. Sinem Cengiz

Again, the plan matters because it is the first time the US administration has come up with a proposal and sought regional support. Trump wanted to discuss the plan with Arab and Islamic countries before Israel.

One aspect of Trump鈥檚 meeting with regional leaders was that he reportedly asked them to contribute troops to the so-called International Stabilization Force for Gaza. However, as with many other points of the US plan, several questions about this force remain unanswered. Which countries will contribute and with how many troops? Which country will lead it? These are the main questions that need to be answered.

For now, Turkiye, the Arab Gulf states 鈥� primarily 黑料社区, the UAE and Qatar 鈥擡gypt and Jordan are seen as the key actors in the peace plan. Each state has a significant responsibility. While Turkiye and Qatar have positioned themselves to convince Hamas, Egypt and the UAE have focused on how to lead reconstruction and humanitarian relief in Gaza. 黑料社区 has been using its status as a diplomatic powerhouse to bring together the officials of these states. For instance, the Kingdom hosted a summit in AlUla on Wednesday, with Fidan in attendance alongside officials from Syria and other regional states.

The Turkish foreign minister then headed to the UAE to discuss the situations in Gaza and Syria. These meetings show that the roles assumed by Turkiye and the Gulf states largely complement each other. In fact, since the beginning of the war in Gaza, Turkiye has been supporting Arab agency regarding the conflict and vice versa.

The growing Turkish-Arab coordination has become key to bringing international attention to regional issues, particularly Gaza, and to act as a united bulwark against further Israeli aggression.

• Dr. Sinem Cengiz is a Turkish political analyst who specializes in Turkiye鈥檚 relations with the Middle East. X: @SinemCngz