Turkish intelligence chief discusses Gaza ceasefire with senior Hamas leader

(Patria) - Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin met on Sunday with a senior Hamas leader to discuss the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza and efforts to achieve a ceasefire, state-run news agency Anadolu reported, citing AFP.

Kalin spoke with Mohammed Darwish, head of Hamas's political council that governs Gaza, and his delegation at an undisclosed location, Anadolu said, citing security sources.

They discussed the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza and Turkey's efforts to end the war and "ensure an urgent flow of aid" into the Gaza Strip.

They also spoke about "the need to reach consensus among Palestinian groups during this critical period... (and) steps to be taken to achieve a lasting ceasefire in Gaza," the sources said.

The meeting came after US President Donald Trump expressed optimism about a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, saying on Friday that it could happen "within the next week."

Mediators have been involved in months-long negotiations aimed at ending twenty months of war in Gaza, where Israel stopped all food from entering more than two months ago, pushing the population to the brink of famine.

Since then, food deliveries have been allowed to resume via the controversial Humanitarian Foundation for Gaza, involving US security contractors, with Israeli troops on the periphery.

Witnesses and Gaza officials have reported multiple cases of Palestinians being killed while trying to obtain aid.