UN mandate for Gaza stabilisation force still under discussion, says Turkey
Istanbul: Countries are still working on securing a United Nations Security Council mandate for an international stabilisation force in Gaza, and any decisions on troop contributions will be made once a framework is finalised, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Monday, Reuters reported.
Fidan made the remarks after a ministerial meeting in Istanbul attended by foreign ministers and representatives from several Muslim-majority nations, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Pakistan, Indonesia, and Turkey. The meeting focused on the fragile U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza.
According to Fidan, some of the participating countries could contribute to the proposed stabilisation force that would monitor the truce. The leaders of these seven nations had earlier met U.S. President Donald Trump in New York in September, shortly before the ceasefire plan between Israel and Hamas was agreed.
Fidan said there were challenges in fully implementing the agreement because Israel was regularly violating it.
“Israel must fulfil its duty to allow sufficient aid into Gaza,” Reuters quoted Fidan as saying at a press conference.
Israel, however, maintains that it is complying with the ceasefire and has accused Hamas of not returning the bodies of remaining hostages. A government spokeswoman told Reuters that Israel was allowing “hundreds of trucks of aid on a daily basis (while) Hamas shows their true colours by derailing humanitarian aid meant for their own people.”
Turkey, a NATO member, has been among Israel’s strongest critics, calling the two-year-long military campaign in Gaza a “genocide”. With U.S. support, Ankara has played a key role in mediating the ceasefire and expressed interest in participating in any monitoring mission, though Israel opposes Turkish involvement.
Asked about the proposed role of Turkey, Fidan said countries were working to define the mission’s “legitimacy and scope.”
“They will decide, based on the contents of this definition, whether to send soldiers or not,” Reuters quoted him as saying.
The Gaza truce, in place since October 10, has been repeatedly tested by outbreaks of violence. Key issues such as the disarmament of Hamas and a timetable for Israel’s withdrawal remain unresolved.
Fidan reiterated that Turkey wants Palestinians to ensure their own security and governance after the war, but noted that “several steps must be taken before that goal can be realised.”
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4 workers die after being buried under coal slurry in Jharkhand's Dhanbad
Dhanbad (Jharkhand) (PTI): At least four workers died after being buried under coal slurry in Jharkhand's Dhanbad district on Saturday, a police official said.
The incident took place at Moonidih coal washery in the command area of Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL).
"Bodies of all four workers were dug out of debris during a rescue operation," Putki police station in-charge Waqar Hussain told PTI.
The incident took place when coal slurry was being loaded into trucks by workers, during which a large chunk of slurry fell and trapped several workers underneath, officials said.
The deceased have been identified as Manik Bauri, Dinesh Bauri, Deepak Bauri, and Hemlal Gope.
Meanwhile, the family members of the deceased and local villagers placed the bodies in front of the washery gate and began a protest.
They demanded compensation, jobs for dependents and action against those responsible for the incident.
Police and administration officials are trying to pacify the protesters, an official said.
