KEY POINTS
- Istanbul meeting brought together foreign ministers from Pakistan, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, the UAE, Indonesia, and Jordan.
- Muslim foreign ministers demanded Israel’s complete withdrawal from occupied Palestinian territories.
- Pakistan reaffirmed support for a Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
- Israeli air strikes hit southern Gaza, killing at least two people despite the ceasefire.
- 236 Palestinians killed and 600 injured in Israeli attacks since truce began on Oct 10.
ISTANBUL, Turkiye: Foreign ministers from eight Muslim countries on Monday demanded Israel’s complete withdrawal from the occupied Palestinian territories and called for urgent humanitarian aid and reconstruction efforts in Gaza, as Israel continued ceasefire violations despite a US-brokered truce.
Hamas and Israel had signed a ceasefire agreement on October 9, agreeing to free the Israeli captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, in the first phase of US President Donald Trump’s initiative to end the Israeli onslaught in Gaza.
Despite Israeli violations, the fragile truce has been holding in Gaza. The truce, which left thorny issues like the disarmament of Hamas and a timeline for Israeli withdrawal from Gaza unresolved, has been tested by unilateral Israeli bombardment since coming into force.
The Arab-Islamic Foreign Ministers’ meeting, hosted by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Istanbul, brought together top diplomats from Pakistan, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, and Jordan to coordinate a collective response to the deteriorating situation in Gaza.
The Muslim leaders’ meeting on Gaza condemned Israel’s continued aggression and violations of the ceasefire.
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar along with other Arab-Islamic Foreign Ministers deliberated on the way forward for a lasting ceasefire and sustainable peace in Gaza.
“The leaders jointly called for urgent humanitarian aid for the Palestinians, condemned Israeli ceasefire violations, demanded Israel’s withdrawal from the Occupied Palestinian Territory and emphasised the rebuilding of Gaza,” Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on X.
Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 along with other Arab-Islamic Foreign Ministers, deliberated on the way forward for a lasting ceasefire and sustainable peace in Gaza.
The leaders jointly called for urgent humanitarian aid for the… pic.twitter.com/sPG2sz1uXm
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) November 3, 2025
The Muslim countries’ foreign ministers urged immediate and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance to Gaza and called for the full implementation of the truce.
“The international community must ensure that all sides preserve the peace process and prevent actions that could sabotage progress,” Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told reporters after the meeting.
He said Israeli forces had killed at least 250 Palestinians since the ceasefire began and accused Israel of blocking agreed humanitarian aid deliveries.
“Israel is not fulfilling its commitments. The number of aid trucks entering Gaza is far below what was agreed upon,” Fidan said, calling for international pressure on Israel to meet its obligations.
Pakistan reaffirms support for Palestinian state
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar represented Islamabad at the high-level meeting. During the meeting, Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s long-standing support for the establishment of an independent, viable and contiguous State of Palestine based on pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital, in line with UN and OIC resolutions.
“Pakistan remains committed to the just cause of Palestine and calls for an immediate and lasting ceasefire, unfettered humanitarian access, and reconstruction of Gaza,” Dar said, according to a statement issued by the Foreign Office (FO).
Turkiye proposes Gaza Task Force
Turkish Foreign Minister Fidan said the meeting discussed the formation of a “Stabilisation Force” to oversee the ceasefire’s implementation and coordinate reconstruction efforts.
“Countries will decide to send soldiers to an international stabilisation force based on its definition and parameters. As Turkiye, we’re ready to do whatever is necessary and make sacrifices for peace, but we need an agreeable framework first,” Fidan said.
He added that Hamas had shown readiness to hand over control to a Palestinian committee focused on protecting civilians and ensuring governance in Gaza, stressing the need for Palestinian unity and coordination among Muslim countries.
Hamas determined to stick to truce
Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, addressing a session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) economic summit in Istanbul, said Hamas appeared determined to adhere to the truce and urged Muslim nations to take a leading role in Gaza’s reconstruction.
“It seems that Hamas is quite determined to adhere to the agreement,” Erdogan said.
“At this point, we need to deliver more humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza and then begin reconstruction efforts. The Israeli government is doing everything in its power to prevent this.”
Erdogan emphasised that the OIC should play a “leading role” in rebuilding Gaza and called for coordinated international efforts to ensure a lasting peace.
President Erdogan on Sudan:
– Responsibility to stop bloodshed in Sudan falls primarily on Islamic world
– As Muslims, we must solve our problems ourselves instead of relying on others for a solution
– I firmly believe that all member states of our organisation will take joint… pic.twitter.com/WyVP9NICLK— TRT World (@trtworld) November 3, 2025
Follow-up to New York meeting
The Istanbul summit followed a high-level meeting held in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September, where Muslim leaders, including those from Pakistan, Turkiye, and Saudi Arabia, met President Trump to discuss a comprehensive plan for Gaza’s reconstruction.
The joint statement from that earlier meeting called for a coordinated Arab League–OIC initiative, international support for Palestinian leadership, and concrete arrangements to ensure Gaza’s stability and security.
At the Istanbul meeting, participants reaffirmed those commitments and stressed that a sustainable peace would only be possible through a two-state solution and an end to Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories.
Pakistan and Turkiye strengthen cooperation
On the sidelines of the summit, Ishaq Dar held a bilateral meeting with Hakan Fidan, during which both sides agreed to deepen cooperation across political, economic, and defence sectors, and to continue working closely on the issue of Palestine.
Both leaders agreed to continue working together on the issue of Palestine, especially on establishing sustainable peace in Gaza.
Pakistan Foreign Office said the ministers expressed satisfaction over the “positive trajectory of Pakistan–Turkiye relations” and reaffirmed “their shared commitment to sustainable peace in Gaza.”
Both countries also agreed to maintain close coordination on regional and international issues and underscored their “strong bonds of brotherhood and mutual support.”
The Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad
Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50, held a bilateral meeting with the Foreign Minister of Türkiye, H.E. Hakan Fidan @HakanFidan, on the sidelines of Ministerial Meeting on Gaza in Istanbul.During the meeting, the ministers… pic.twitter.com/KJCzdu5blm
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) November 3, 2025
Israeli attacks despite truce
Despite the US-backed ceasefire, Israeli forces have continued air and ground operations in Gaza, killing more than 236 Palestinians and injuring over 600 since the truce began, according to Palestinian health ministry in Gaza.
The participating ministers called for Israel to immediately end all violations, withdraw from occupied territories, and allow unrestricted humanitarian access to Gaza.
On Monday, Israeli air strikes hit several areas in southern Gaza, killing at least two people.
The latest Israeli attacks targeted eastern Khan Younis and Deir el-Balah, while Israeli gunboats shelled the coastline near Nuseirat refugee camp.
Medical sources at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, cited by Al Jazeera, said one Palestinian man was killed and another wounded by Israeli drone fire.
The Gaza Government Media Office accused Israel of committing more than 125 violations of the ceasefire agreement, including air and artillery strikes and the use of quadcopter drones to drop grenades on partially destroyed buildings.
Bodies exchanged under ceasefire deal
On Monday, Israel returned the bodies of 45 Palestinians to Gaza under the ongoing exchange mechanism agreed in the ceasefire deal, raising the total number of Palestinian bodies returned to 270.
Hamas had earlier handed over the remains of three Israeli soldiers—Colonel Assaf Hamami, Captain Omer Neutra and Staff Sergeant Oz Daniel—to the International Committee of the Red Cross.
The arrangement, brokered under Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace plan, stipulates that Israel will return 15 Palestinians for every deceased Israeli captive handed over by Hamas.
Hamas said the process of locating and recovering remains is being delayed by “massive destruction” in Gaza, and has asked mediators to provide equipment for the search.
Israel has accused Hamas of “dragging its feet” in fulfilling the terms of the deal, which also involves the release of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for 20 surviving Israeli captives — a swap that was completed last week.
Aid still falling short
Humanitarian agencies say that while aid has begun entering Gaza since the truce, it remains far below the needs of the displaced population.
Many families at distribution centres in Khan Younis told Al Jazeera they had received only basic food items such as rice and canned beans, insufficient for their needs.
“We received this box of aid, but it’s not enough to feed us,” said Nermeen Tramsi, a displaced woman from Gaza City.
“If you compare this to the aid coming in, it’s nothing. A family needs more than just beans and rice.”
Hospitals in the enclave remain overwhelmed, with thousands of critically ill patients, including 4,000 children, awaiting medical evacuation.
The Rafah crossing with Egypt remains closed, and Israel has refused to reopen it until all Israeli remains are returned under the terms of the truce.
