Turkey's Fidan says Hamas 'ready' to cede Gaza control amid Trump’s ceasefire push

The message was conveyed to the Turkish side during talks between Ankara and the militant group, a source told Al-Monitor.

Ezgi Akin
Ezgi Akin
pose for a family photo during a meeting of foreign ministers from Muslim countries to discuss the Gaza peace plan, in Istanbul, on Nov. 3, 2025.
(L to R) Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Qatar Sultan bin Saad bin Sultan Al Muraikhi, Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Indonesia's Foreign Minister Sugiono and United Arab Emirates Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Khalifa bin Shaheen Al Marar pose for a family photo during a meeting of foreign ministers from Muslim countries to discuss the Gaza peace plan, in Istanbul, on Nov. 3, 2025. — OZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images

ANKARA — Hamas is ready to hand over control of Gaza, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Monday, a position the group’s political leaders conveyed to Turkey during talks in Istanbul over the weekend.

“Hamas is ready to hand over authority to a committee that will consist of Palestinians and represent Gaza’s will,” Fidan told journalists in Istanbul.

The militant group “conveyed its position to the Turkish side,” a source familiar with the talks between Ankara and Hamas clarified to Al-Monitor.

Fidan's remarks followed a meeting he held with Hamas political leaders in Istanbul on Saturday, including senior leader Khalil al-Hayya, a top negotiator for the militant group, as well as Zaher Jabarin, another senior official. Turkey, along with Egypt and Qatar, signed the ceasefire deal during Trump’s visit to Egypt on Oct. 13, which paused the war between Israel and Hamas just as it entered its third year. 

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