US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has engaged in discussions with Turkish officials, including Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, regarding the pressing need to exert maximum pressure on Hamas to accept a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza. This information was shared by a US official on Friday.
Despite Turkey's historical lack of involvement and pressure on Hamas, Fidan reportedly indicated that he has taken steps in recent days to influence the militant group. The Turkish foreign minister has outlined his plans to continue pushing Hamas towards flexibility, as per the official.
The official further mentioned that Hamas appears to be more receptive to a deal than it has been in months, displaying increased flexibility and moving away from some of its previous stances. However, specific details regarding the softened positions of the group were not disclosed.
It is noted that a significant portion of Hamas' political leadership has relocated to Istanbul, indicating Turkey's potential role in facilitating negotiations and influencing the group's decisions.
