Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, during his visit to Egypt on Saturday, August 9, urged Muslim nations to act in complete unity and mobilize the international community against Israel’s plan to take control of Gaza City.
Speaking at a joint press conference after meeting Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Fidan said the Organization of Islamic Cooperation had been asked to convene an emergency session on the matter.
He arrived in Cairo earlier in the day for talks with senior Egyptian officials regarding Israel’s decision to expand its military operations in Gaza.
Turkey, a NATO member, has described Israel’s assault on Gaza as “genocide” and suspended all trade with Tel Aviv.
Despite internal and international criticism, Israel’s cabinet yesterday approved a plan to seize Gaza City, in the northern Gaza Strip. In a statement, the Prime Minister’s Office said the Israeli army “will prepare to take control of Gaza City while providing humanitarian aid to civilians outside combat zones.”
According to Axios journalist Barak Ravid, citing an Israeli official on X, the plan includes evacuating civilians from Gaza City and launching a ground operation there.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the decision “a mistake” and urged Israel to reconsider, saying it would not help end the war or free hostages, but would only cause more bloodshed.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced that his government would, until further notice, halt any export of military equipment to Israel that could be used in Gaza, stressing that freeing hostages and negotiating a ceasefire remain Germany’s top priorities.
Many European and Asian countries have voiced opposition to the plan. Pakistan and the Taliban have also expressed their rejection of it.
