FM urges 'immediate ceasefire' in Gaza in talks with Blinken

ISTANBUL

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Jan. 6 that Türkiye is committed to playing “a positive, productive” role for postwar Gaza, as his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, told him that Israel’s “increasing aggression” in Gaza is a threat to the region and he called for an immediate ceasefire.

The latest Mideast mission by America's top diplomat opened with talks in Türkiye and Greece before shifting to the region for “not necessarily easy conversations” with allies and partners about what they are willing to do “to build durable peace and security.”

Blinken’s fourth visit in three months comes as developments in Lebanon, northern Israel, the Red Sea and Iraq have put intense strains on the U.S. push to prevent a regional conflagration as international criticism of Israel’s military operation mounts.

Blinken held talks with Fidan and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Istanbul on Jan. 6 about what Türkiye and others can do to ease tensions, speed humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza and begin planning for reconstruction and governance of postwar Gaza. Much of the territory has been reduced to rubble by Israeli bombardments.

From the Turkish officials, Blinken sought at least consideration of potential monetary or in-kind contributions to reconstruction efforts in Gaza and participation in security arrangements, according to U.S. officials.

Blinken “emphasized the need to prevent the conflict from spreading... and work toward broader, lasting peace that ensures Israel’s security and advances the establishment of a Palestinian state,” the U.S. State Department said in a statement summarizing Blinken's meeting with Erdoğan.

Fidan, for his part, told Blinken that Israel’s “increasing aggression” in Gaza was a threat to the region and he called for an immediate ceasefire and the delivery of “uninterrupted” humanitarian aid. Fidan said negotiations for a two-state solution should begin “as soon as possible.”

Türkiye's top diplomat also said Türkiye was awaiting the outcome of its request to upgrade its fleet of F-16 fighter jets and stressed that the ratification of Sweden’s NATO membership lay in the hands of the Turkish parliament.

Later, on Jan. 6, Blinken arrived in Chania, a port city on the Mediterranean island of Crete, to meet with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at his residence. Mitsotakis and his government have been supportive of U.S. efforts to prevent the Israel-Hamas war from spreading.

Blinken told reporters before he flew from Crete to Amman that “from our conversations today, it’s clear that Türkiye is prepared to play a positive, productive role in the work that needs to happen the day after the conflict ends and as well more broadly in trying to find a path to sustainable peace and security.”

“I think they’re also prepared… to use the ties, the influence they have, the relationships they have with some of the critical players and some of the critical countries in the region to do everything possible to deescalate and to prevent the conflict from spreading... They clearly have a shared interest with us in doing just that and I’m confident from these conversations that they’re going to make every possible effort,” Blinken said.

Blinken's day was ending in Jordan, which apart from Israel has been his most frequent stop on his recent Middle East tours.

He was planning to be in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia yesterday and today. Blinken will visit Israel and the West Bank tomorrow and the next day before wrapping up the trip in Egypt.