Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has announced that Türkiye is ready to serve as a guarantor for the implementation of a two-state solution in Palestine, positioning Ankara as a pivotal player in securing lasting peace in the Middle East.

Fidan described the ceasefire agreement signed earlier this week in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, as "historic for both Gaza and the region," emphasizing the fragile truce's potential to end cycles of violence if backed by robust international commitments.

The Sharm el-Sheikh summit, hosted by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and attended by over 20 world leaders including U.S. President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, formalized a U.S.-led ceasefire between Palestinian resistance groups and Israeli forces. The deal, which Türkiye helped broker through its unique leverage with Hamas and regional stakeholders, includes provisions for phased hostage and prisoner exchanges, unrestricted humanitarian aid corridors into Gaza, and the gradual transfer of Gaza's administration to a Palestinian technocratic authority. As one of four signatories to the joint statement—alongside the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar—Türkiye has established an "early task force" to monitor compliance and facilitate logistics, underscoring its proactive mediation role.

Fidan warned that failure to advance toward a credible two-state framework could lead to "not just another war, but another genocide," highlighting the urgent need to empower Palestinians with sovereignty over their territory. "Our primary goals are to ensure adherence to the ceasefire terms, guarantee the uninterrupted flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, enable Palestinians to govern their own lands, and decisively pursue an independent Palestinian state," he stated. "If the current process fails, the consequences will be catastrophic for the region." He reiterated Türkiye's offer: "If a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders is implemented, granting Palestinians a sovereign and equal state, we are ready to act as a guarantor. This is a major commitment, one not every state can undertake."

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan echoed Fidan's sentiments, praising recent recognitions of Palestine by Western nations such as the United Kingdom and France as "important but insufficient" without tangible steps toward a viable two-state solution. In a statement released from Ankara on Sunday, Erdoğan stressed: "At this stage, it is essential to intensify efforts toward a two-state solution. We wish to see these decisions as foundational steps in the process leading to a two-state solution, rather than mere symbolic acts."Erdoğan reaffirmed Türkiye's vision of a fully sovereign Palestinian state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, contiguous territory, and security guarantees. "The only just and lasting resolution lies in this framework," he said. "Türkiye stands ready to collaborate with regional and international partners to transform this vision into reality, ensuring the sacrifices of the Palestinian people lead to genuine liberation and statehood, not despair." He urged global powers to support a multilateral guarantor system, drawing on Türkiye's experience in conflicts like Ukraine-Russia and Syria, where Ankara has successfully mediated grain deals and de-escalation processes.

Analysts note that this ceasefire—unlike failed truces in late 2023 and early 2025—benefits from stronger enforcement structures, including a four-party monitoring committee (Türkiye, Egypt, Qatar, U.S.), which could pave the way for broader peace talks.

As the ink dries on the Sharm el-Sheikh accord, Türkiye's bold guarantor pledge signals a shift from mediation to sustained oversight, aiming to break the impasse that has defined the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for decades. With aid flowing and diplomacy accelerating, the coming weeks will test whether this "historic" moment endures or unravels under the weight of entrenched divisions. (ILKHA)