ALBAWABA - According to Israeli news channel Channel 24, Ankara's behind-the-scenes work was key in getting Hamas to agree to U.S. President Donald Trump's ceasefire proposal for Gaza. This move surprised both Israel and Washington with how quickly and calmly it happened.
The report said that Turkey put a lot of pressure on Hamas in the past few weeks, with Turkish intelligence officials leading the effort to mediate. The channel's sources say that Ankara promised the U.S. that Hamas would free all hostages, both living and dead, in one phase. This was despite the military wing of the group saying they would only free 10 hostages over 60 days along with an Israeli withdrawal.
A regional source who knows about the talks said that Turkey's involvement was "decisive," adding that the pressure campaign "pushed Hamas to adopt the essence of Trump's plan" and sped up its official response.
The channel also said that Hamas's official response was sent directly to Trump's office by Turkish middlemen after Ankara warned the group to act quickly. According to reports, this coordination led to Trump's unusual quick public acknowledgment, in which he reposted Hamas's response almost word for word on social media.
The Growing Role of Turkish Intelligence
İbrahim Kalın, the head of Turkish intelligence, has met with Hamas leaders several times in Ankara and recently said that he is actively involved in the mediation. Sources said that Turkey's motivation came from its desire to regain its influence in the region and become a key go-between for Washington and Hamas.
The Question of Disarmament and Partial Acceptance
The same report says that Hamas's acceptance of Trump's proposal is still "partial." The group agrees to some humanitarian and political clauses but not to others that have to do with disarmament and a phased withdrawal of Israeli troops.
Channel 24 said that people are still talking about whether Turkey has been trying to get Hamas to give up its offensive weapons or has already done so. Some reports say that Hamas is thinking about putting its heavy weapons in Egypt and keeping its defensive weapons in Gaza.
Strategic Effects
Analysts say that Turkey's role as a mediator is part of a bigger plan to keep its influence over Palestinian groups while improving its diplomatic ties with the US. If true, Ankara's role could change how regional powers deal with Hamas and future peace plans in Gaza.
