Turkey emerges as key player in Gaza ceasefire deal

By Tuvan Gumrukcu and Jonathan Spicer

ANKARA (Reuters) -Turkey aims to take part in a "task force" overseeing the newly-agreed ceasefire in Gaza and the implementation of its articles, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday, as Ankara appeared to have emerged as a key player in both the negotiations and execution of the deal.

A senior Turkish official separately told Reuters that the regional power will take part in a joint task force - alongside Israel, the United States, Qatar and Egypt - established to locate the bodies of deceased hostages in Gaza whose locations are unknown.

Turkey, which participated in the ceasefire negotiations in Egypt, has been one of the harshest critics of Israel's assault on Gaza, calling it a genocide. Since Israel launched its attack on Gaza two years ago, the NATO ally has been involved in a largely indirect capacity in peace efforts but took a heightened role in recent weeks.

"God willing, we as Turkey will take part in the task force that will monitor the agreement's implementation in the field," Erdogan said in a speech in Ankara, adding that Turkey will also contribute to the reconstruction of Gaza.

He also highlighted Turkey's role in the process, describing events leading up to the agreement - from the Gaza meeting at the United Nations General Assembly to his discussions on the issue with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House last month and a subsequent phone call last week.

It was not immediately clear whether Erdogan and the senior official were referring to the same task force or whether it was a reference to a "stabilisation force" per Trump's plan.

Turkey's intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin attended the talks in Egypt, where he conveyed Ankara's views and guidance to Hamas on how to move forward, according to a security official, who added Kalin also held separate talks with all parties except the Israeli side. Turkey deems Hamas a resistance group.

Erdogan has said that he explained to Trump how peace can be achieved in Gaza and that the U.S. president requested Ankara's help in convincing Hamas to accept his plan.

TURKEY SAYS WON'T REST UNTIL PALESTINIAN STATE SET UP

"I am very pleased that the Hamas-Israel talks taking place in Sharm el-Sheikh, with contributions from us as Turkey, have resulted in a ceasefire in Gaza," Erdogan posted on X earlier on Thursday.

He thanked Trump "who demonstrated the necessary political will to encourage the Israeli government towards the ceasefire", as well as Qatar and Egypt, adding Ankara would not stop until a sovereign Palestinian state was established.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said ahead of the truce announcement that after the sides declare a ceasefire as a first step in Trump's plan, they would work on "heavier" issues like ensuring security in Gaza and post-war scenarios.

In a statement, Turkey's foreign ministry said it hoped the momentum in these talks could lead to a two-state solution, and added Ankara would monitor its strict implementation so it could "bring an end to the genocide" in Gaza.

"With the ceasefire in place, it is imperative that humanitarian aid be delivered to Gaza ... and that efforts for the reconstruction of Gaza be launched without delay," it added, saying Ankara would continue providing humanitarian aid.

(Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu in Ankara and Jonathan Spicer in Istanbul, Writing by Daren Butler, Editing by Sharon Singleton, Mark Potter and Deepa Babington)