Turkey helping in talks over Hamas fighters holed up in Gaza, sources say

Turkey is working with the United States and Arab mediators to secure safe passage for Hamas fighters who are holed up in tunnels in the Israel-controlled

area of Gaza, a Palestinian source, a Hamas official and Turkish officials said on Monday.



The fate of about 200 fighters has complicated efforts to shift Gaza ceasefire talks, being conducted between Israel and the Palestinians militant group, to the next phase that aims to secure a permanent end to the two-year-old war.



A Palestinian source close to the mediation effort said Turkey was involved in mediation over the fate of the fighters, working alongside Egypt, Qatar and the United States.



Two Turkish officials, including the spokesperson for President Tayyip Erdogan's ruling AK Party, confirmed Turkey was mediating in talks over the fate of 200 Palestinians, without giving details.