(MENAFN) The Palestinian organization Hamas has demonstrated its readiness to take positive measures to make the current ceasefire in Gaza lasting, and Israel should respond with the same level of understanding, Türkiye’s foreign minister stated on Wednesday.

“The Gaza Strip is part of Palestine; it must remain so and be treated as such,” declared Hakan Fidan during a joint press conference in Ankara alongside his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdelatty.

Expressing his deep satisfaction in welcoming Egypt’s top diplomat, Fidan pointed out that Abdelatty had also been received by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Commending the vision and determination of the leaders of both nations, Fidan emphasized that they are achieving “significant progress” in strengthening relations between Türkiye and Egypt.

He highlighted that the inaugural session of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC), convened on Sept. 4, 2024, marked a milestone in their bilateral relations.

As foreign ministers, Fidan said, they continue to coordinate collaborative initiatives across multiple sectors.

Fidan further noted that he and Abdelatty jointly presided over the first meeting of the Türkiye-Egypt Joint Planning Group, which brought together representatives from relevant institutions.

The gathering, he said, examined various dimensions of their relationship and assessed the current stage of agreements under discussion.

“We aim to have these agreements ready for signature by the time of the second HLSCC meeting next year. In this way, we will further strengthen the contractual foundation of our relations,” he concluded.

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