THE Turkey is in talks with Hamas for release of foreigners, citizens and children who are being held hostage by the organization, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said today.

The head of Turkish diplomacy is in Beirut at the invitation of his Lebanese counterpart Abdullah Rashid Bouhabib.

During a press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beirut, Hakan Fidan stated alongside his Lebanese counterpart that “many countries” have asked Turkey to secure the release of their citizens held by Hamas. “Accordingly, we have started talking, particularly with the political wing of Hamas.”

Yesterday, Fidan discussed the issue with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, according to a Turkish Foreign Ministry source.

We are doing everything we can to prevent the war from developing in a way that would destabilize countries in the region, especially Lebanon, Egypt and Jordan, he said.

The time has come for the international community to take a serious step towards establishing a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with Jerusalem as its capital, the Turkish foreign minister said.

The Turkish presidency announced last week the start of negotiations with Hamas with the aim of freeing the hostages held by the Islamic organization.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan offered his mediation and increased contacts with Arab and Western leaders, as did his foreign minister.

Hakan Fidan announced today his participation in the meeting of foreign ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, which will take place tomorrow in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.