Pakistan, Turkey discuss Gaza crisis, vow to deepen political and economic ties

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Istanbul, where the two leaders discussed the escalating situation in Gaza and ways to strengthen political, economic and defense cooperation between their countries.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Ministerial Meeting on Gaza, bringing together Arab and Islamic foreign ministers to coordinate efforts toward a lasting ceasefire.

Both sides expressed satisfaction over the “positive momentum” in Pakistan-Turkey relations and reaffirmed their shared commitment to advance strategic collaboration rooted in long-standing fraternal ties.

Dar and Fidan emphasized the importance of continued coordination on regional and international challenges, particularly the Gaza crisis, where both countries have advocated for an immediate ceasefire and a just resolution based on international law.

Shared call for peace in Gaza

During the broader ministerial session, Dar joined other Arab and Islamic foreign ministers in calling for urgent humanitarian assistance to Palestinians and condemning what they described as repeated Israeli ceasefire violations.

The leaders demanded Israel’s withdrawal from the Occupied Palestinian Territories and urged reconstruction efforts to begin immediately in Gaza.

Pakistan reaffirmed its consistent stance in support of an independent, viable, and contiguous Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital, in line with United Nations and Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) resolutions.

Despite a U.S.-brokered truce, Israeli shelling and gunfire were reported in northern Gaza on Friday, killing at least three people, according to Palestinian health officials. The Gaza Health Ministry said the Red Cross had delivered 30 bodies of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces, a day after Hamas returned the remains of two Israeli hostages.

Under the terms of the ceasefire, Hamas agreed to release all surviving hostages in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, while Israel committed to halting its offensive, pulling back troops, and expanding humanitarian access. Hamas also pledged to hand over the remains of 28 deceased hostages in return for 360 Palestinian fighters killed during the war.

By Thursday, 17 of the 28 bodies had been handed over, while 225 Palestinian bodies had been returned to Gaza. Hamas said it required additional time to locate the remaining hostages’ bodies, a delay that Israel has claimed constitutes a breach of the ceasefire.

Gaza’s devastation deepens

After two years of conflict, Gaza remains in ruins. According to local health authorities, more than 68,000 Palestinians have been killed, while entire neighborhoods have been flattened. Humanitarian agencies warn that recovery will require decades without sustained international intervention.

The meeting in Istanbul reflected growing diplomatic coordination among Muslim-majority nations seeking to revive the peace process and press for accountability over the destruction in Gaza - even as the fragile ceasefire continues to teeter.