Foreign ministers from seven countries meet in Istanbul to discuss Gaza ceasefire

ISTANBUL - Foreign ministers from seven countries met in Istanbul on Monday to discuss efforts to uphold the Gaza ceasefire and plan for the enclave's future, as Israeli strikes continued despite the truce.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan hosted his counterparts from the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Qatar, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Jordan.

Fidan said the ministers agreed on the need to maintain the ceasefire and prevent new violence. "All participants agree that we do not want the atrocities in Gaza to resume," he told reporters, adding that the group supports a two-state solution as the basis for lasting peace.

He accused Israel of repeatedly violating the truce and blocking humanitarian aid, which he said made enforcement difficult.

On Gaza's post-war governance, Fidan said discussions were ongoing and stressed the need to first reach consensus on a draft plan. "This is a sensitive process, and we must proceed carefully. Any steps taken to resolve the Palestinian issue should not create structural problems for the future," he said.

Fidan noted the seven countries shared a common stance: "Palestine should be governed and secured by Palestinians."

Despite the ceasefire that began on Oct 10, Israeli strikes have continued, killing more than 200 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health ministry.

Earlier on Monday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told a meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation that Hamas appeared to be upholding the truce, while accusing Israel of violating it.

"We are faced with an administration that, hiding behind various pretexts, has killed more than 200 innocent people since the ceasefire agreement, and continues its occupation and attacks in the West Bank," Erdogan said, warning that the ongoing violence threatens peace efforts.