From the Liveblog of
Monday, January 26, 2026
Turkish FM meets Hamas delegation in Ankara amid mediators’ efforts to disarm terror group
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleJacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met earlier today with a Hamas delegation headed by Khalil al-Hayya in Ankara amid efforts by the Gaza ceasefire deal mediators to advance the decommissioning of the terror group’s weapons and the demilitarization of the Strip.
The Turkish foreign ministry posts pictures from the meeting but does not provide additional information.
Hamas has vowed to hold onto its weapons, and sources familiar with the negotiations have told The Times of Israel that the mediators are pushing for a gradual handover of the group’s weapons — a framework Israel opposes.
Minister of Foreign Affairs @HakanFidan met with Hamas delegation headed by Halil el-Hayya, Member of Hamas Political Bureau, in Ankara. pic.twitter.com/t5zvyuSIap
— Turkish MFA (@MFATurkiye) January 26, 2026
The Times of Israel Community.