Turkey denies pressuring Hamas for Gaza ceasefire at US request

Turkey has formally denied reports that Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan pressured Hamas officials over the weekend to make concessions in ceasefire talks with Israel.

"The claim published by an Israeli newspaper does not reflect the truth," Turkish foreign ministry spokesperson Oncu Keceli told MEE in a statement.

Fidan met Hamas Shura Council chairman Muhammad Ismail Darwish and other senior officials in Doha on Sunday to discuss efforts to reach a long-term ceasefire and the need to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, according to a Turkish readout.

On Monday, Haaretz, citing Palestinian officials affiliated with Hamas, reported that Turkey had pressured Hamas to make concessions following a request from the United States.

However, insiders in Ankara say Turkey has been working to broker a deal to present to Washington - and, if possible, directly to US President Donald Trump - to secure another ceasefire, rather than putting pressure on the Hamas leadership.