Turkish FM meets Hamas delegation to discuss Gaza peace plan

ANKARA, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met on Wednesday with a Hamas delegation led by the group's senior member Khalil al-Hayya in Ankara to discuss the situation in Gaza and exchange views on the second phase of the Gaza peace plan, the semi-official Anadolu Agency reported.

Anadolu Agency quoted anonymous foreign ministry sources as saying that Fidan "reiterated that Trkiye will continue to defend the rights of Palestinians" and briefed the delegation on Trkiye's ongoing efforts to address shelter and humanitarian needs in Gaza.

The Hamas delegation stressed it had adhered to the ceasefire conditions, yet accused Israel of continuing attacks on Gaza and hindering the transition to the second phase of the peace plan.

The delegation noted that around 60 percent of the trucks entering Gaza carried commercial goods, while the flow of humanitarian aid remained insufficient to address urgent needs, including daily essentials, medicines, shelter materials, and fuel.

The talks also covered developments in efforts to reconcile Palestinian factions, and the situation in the West Bank, where Israel's practices were described as unacceptable.

After two years of conflict in Gaza, a long-awaited ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into effect on Oct. 10, following mediation efforts by the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Trkiye.

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