ISTANBUL

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Thursday that the Gaza "Board of Peace" offers a "historic opportunity" to establish lasting peace in the region.

Fidan wrote on the Turkish social media platform NSosyal that the "Board of Peace," of which President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is also a founding member, offers a "historic opportunity" to alleviate the longstanding suffering of the people of Gaza, meet their humanitarian needs, and establish "a lasting and inclusive peace in the region."

He recounted that he attended the signing ceremony of the Board of Peace Charter for Gaza in Davos, Switzerland on behalf of President Erdogan.

"We believe that by working shoulder to shoulder with the people of Gaza, the Board of Peace will play a strong role in shaping Gaza’s future, helping the region stand back on its feet, and allowing peace to take root," Fidan noted.

He further reaffirmed Türkiye's resolve that a future is possible in which the voices of the people of Gaza are heard, their rights are safeguarded, and they can live in peace.

Last week, the White House announced the formation of the Board of Peace alongside the approval of a National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, one of four bodies designated to manage the transitional phase in the enclave.

The creation of the board coincided with the launch of phase two of a ceasefire agreement which halted Israel’s war on Gaza, which has killed more than 71,000 people and injured over 171,000 others since October 2023.

The initiative is part of a 20-point plan proposed by US President Donald Trump and adopted by the UN Security Council under Resolution 2803 last November.