Latest news with #IbrahimKalin
Roya News
6 days ago
- Politics
- Roya News
Russia-Ukraine peace talks to resume in Istanbul with Turkiye's mediation
The second round of peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, facilitated by Turkiye, is set to begin Monday at 1 PM local time at Istanbul's Ciragan Palace, Turkish diplomatic sources confirmed. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will chair the trilateral meeting and will include senior officials from Russia, Ukraine, and Turkiye. Also expected to attend is Ibrahim Kalin, head of Turkiye's National Intelligence Organization (MIT). This meeting follows the first round of talks held on May 16 in Istanbul, where the parties agreed to a mutual prisoner exchange—1,000 from each side—and outlined preliminary positions on a potential cease-fire. All sides pledged to keep dialogue open and work toward de-escalating the ongoing conflict. Turkiye, which maintains strong diplomatic ties with both Moscow and Kyiv, continues to play a central role in mediating between the two countries. Ahead of Monday's talks, Ukrainian officials met in Istanbul with representatives from Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom to coordinate positions. Ukraine's foreign ministry said the delegation reiterated its dedication to pursuing a peaceful resolution. 'The Ukrainian delegation reaffirmed its commitment to peace efforts,' a ministry spokesperson stated.
Express Tribune
20-04-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Turkey's spy chief meets Hamas to discuss Gaza aid, ceasefire proposals
Turkish Presidential spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin gives a press conference following talks with Sweden and Finland over their bids to join NATO at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, on May 25, 2022. (File photo: AFP) Listen to article Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin held talks with senior Hamas officials in Ankara on Saturday to discuss humanitarian access to Gaza and proposals for a permanent ceasefire, according to Turkey's state-run Anadolu news agency. Kalin, the head of Turkey's National Intelligence Organisation (MIT), met Mohammad Darwish, head of Hamas' political council, as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens amid Israel's renewed military campaign. The discussions focused on aid delivery, a potential prisoner exchange deal, and diplomatic initiatives to end the conflict. Hamas reiterated its readiness to 'immediately reach a comprehensive prisoner exchange agreement in return for a ceasefire,' along with demands for Israeli withdrawal, reconstruction of Gaza, and lifting of the blockade. Kalin reaffirmed Ankara's support for Palestinian rights and expressed opposition to any attempts by Israel to forcibly displace Gaza's population or annex territory. Hamas also voiced support for Egypt's proposal to create a special governing body for Gaza comprising independent and qualified national figures. Israel has maintained a total blockade on Gaza since March 2. Humanitarian agencies, including the United Nations, warn the strip is facing its worst crisis since the war began in October 2023, following Hamas' attack on Israel. Israel resumed its offensive on March 18 after a two-month ceasefire, with the Palestinian health ministry reporting 1,691 people killed since. The total Palestinian death toll has surpassed 51,000, most of them civilians. Israel says its blockade is necessary to pressure Hamas into releasing the remaining 59 hostages.
Al Arabiya
20-04-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Turkey's spy chief Ibrahim Kalin discusses Gaza aid with Hamas leaders
Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin met Hamas leaders in Turkey on Saturday for talks about how to deliver aid to war-ravaged Gaza where Israel resumed its military offensive last month. Kalin held talks with Mohammad Darwish, head of the political council of Hamas which rules Gaza and his delegation, Turkey's Anadolu state news agency reported, saying they also spoke of initiatives to secure a permanent ceasefire and ways to counter Israeli plans to displace Gaza's population by force. Kalin reassured them of Turkey's ongoing support and said Ankara would firmly oppose any new efforts to occupy or annex further Palestinian territory. In a statement, Hamas said its leaders had stressed their willingness to 'immediately reach a comprehensive prisoner exchange agreement in return for a ceasefire' as well as an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the start of reconstruction and the lifting of Israel's blockade. It also expressed a desire to see 'the immediate implementation of the Egyptian proposal to establish a special committee to govern the Gaza Strip, composed of independents and competent national figures.' The Palestinian militant group had on Thursday signaled its rejection of Israel's latest proposal for a 45-day ceasefire, calling for a 'comprehensive' deal to end the 18-month-long war. Since March 2, Israel has imposed a total blockade on aid entering Gaza. The United Nations has warned the territory was in the grip of its most severe humanitarian crisis since the war began in October 2023, triggered by Hamas's attack on Israel. Hamas has accused Israel of using 'starvation as a weapon' but Israel has vowed to keep up its blockade, saying it was the only way to force the militant group to release the 58 hostages still held in Gaza. After a two-month ceasefire, Israel renewed its Gaza assault on March 18, and since then has killed at least 1,691 people, the health ministry says, bringing the overall toll to 51,065, mostly civilians. The October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, also mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.
Arab News
19-04-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Gaza aid delivery focus of talks in Turkiye
ISTANBUL: Turkiye's intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin met with Hamas leaders on Saturday for talks about how to deliver aid to war-ravaged Gaza where Israel resumed its military offensive last month. Kalin held talks with Mohammed Darwish, head of the political council of Hamas, which rules Gaza, and his delegation, Turkiye's Anadolu state news agency reported, without saying where the meeting took place. Media reports said it was in Turkiye. As well as discussing ways to deliver humanitarian aid, they also spoke of initiatives to secure a permanent ceasefire along with ways to counter Israeli plans to displace Gaza's population forcibly, Anadolu said, citing security sources. Kalin reassured them of Turkiye's ongoing support and said Ankara would firmly oppose any new efforts to occupy or annex further Palestinian territory. After 18 months of devastating war and an Israeli aid blockade since March 2, the UN has said Gaza is facing its most severe humanitarian crisis since the war began in October 2023, triggered by Hamas' attack on Israel. Hamas on Thursday accused Israel of using 'starvation as a weapon' by blocking aid supplies. But Israel has vowed to keep blocking humanitarian aid, saying it is the only way to force Hamas to release the 58 hostages still held there.
Al Arabiya
09-02-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Turkey spy chief in Tehran for talks on ‘terror threats'
Turkey's spy chief Ibrahim Kalin has held talks in Tehran with his Iranian counterpart to discuss the fight against 'terror' groups and the situation in Syria, state news agency Anadolu reported. Kalin met with Iran's Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib as well as security chief Ali Akbar Ahmadian, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Anadolu reported late Saturday. They discussed 'the fight against terror organizations, especially the PKK and Daesh, common threats, the situation in Syria, the Gaza ceasefire and developments in the Palestinian issue,' it said, referring to the banned Kurdish militant group and using an Arabic acronym for the ISIS group. The two countries were on opposite sides of Syria's long-running civil war, with Turkey historically backing opponents of recently deposed strongman Bashar al-Assad, while Iran supported his rule. Al-Assad was deposed on December 8 and the leaders of Turkey and Iran held their first meeting in Cairo later that month. Also Saturday, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan spoke by phone with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi, discussing bilateral issues and 'the situation in Palestine,' Anadolu said, citing diplomatic sources. With AFP
