In Nicosia, the ribbon was cut today to mark the opening of the Gaza Peace Council meeting, attended by officials and experts tasked with charting a path forward for the blood-stained strip. 

The first meeting took place in February, but all proceedings are moving at a slow pace. The financial difficulties facing the council will be at the center of the discussion. 

Participants: The two-day meeting is attended by representatives of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza and a group of Palestinian technocrats intended to take over the governance the Gaza Strip following Hamas. Also present are representatives from the office of Nikolay Mladenov, whom Donald Trump has appointed as his special envoy for Gaza.

Cyprus is not actively participating at the political level, the presidential office states, but it welcomes the convening of the summit in our country and the recognition of its role as a pillar of stability.

Turkey

is annoyed The convening of the summit in Nicosia continues to annoy Ankara. Sources in Turkey are quick to downplay its significance, stating that the host country will have absolutely no involvement in the discussions. 

“Neither Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan nor any other Turkish representative will take part in the meeting. It is simply a technical meeting for internal coordination.” ^{Onju Ketçeli}, ^{Spokesperson for the Turkish Ministry}

^{of Foreign Affairs} Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair is also in Cyprus for the summit; who ultimately canceled his scheduled meeting with the President of the Republic yesterday due to a flight delay. The two men will remain in close contact while the former prime minister is in Cyprus.

See the report by Evangelos Agapios