Turkish foreign minister to discuss Israel's Gaza City plan in Egypt visit, source says

ANKARA (Reuters) -Turkey’s foreign minister will travel to Egypt on Saturday for talks with senior officials on Israel’s plan to take control of Gaza City and on the humanitarian situation there, a Turkish Foreign Ministry source said on Friday.

Israel’s political-security cabinet approved a plan early on Friday to take control of Gaza City, as it expands its military operations despite growing domestic and international criticism over the devastating almost two-year-old war.

NATO member Turkey, which has said Israel’s assault on Gaza amounts to a genocide and halted all trade with it, condemned the plan of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s “fundamentalist government”, and urged world powers and the United Nations Security Council to act to prevent its implementation.

During his visit to Cairo, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will meet Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and other officials to discuss bilateral ties and regional issues, including the Gaza ceasefire negotiations – mediated by Egypt, Qatar and the United States – as well as Israel’s takeover plan, the source said.

Fidan will “evaluate joint efforts to end the genocide in Gaza and allow the unhindered access of humanitarian aid into Gaza, emphasise that the occupying Israel’s actions targeting a two-state solution and its latest steps toward the annexation of Gaza are the biggest obstacle to regional peace and stability,” the source said.

Ankara has praised Egypt, Qatar and the United States for their mediation efforts between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas, whose attack in 2023 prompted Israel’s war on Gaza. It has rejected any Gaza takeover plans or attempts to displace Palestinians.

Fidan will also discuss developments in Africa, including in Libya, Sudan and Somalia, the person added.

(Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu; Editing by Daren Butler and Sharon Singleton)