Background: On July 30, 2026, mediators and Hamas officials in Cairo made rare progress toward implementing a U.S.-brokered plan to end the Gaza war, with discussions on a roadmap for decommissioning weapons, transferring authority to a Palestinian administration, and deploying an international force, though key sticking points remained. New development: On August 2, 2026, Board of Peace chief Nickolay Mladenov said mediators are working around the clock to de-escalate the situation in Gaza and implement the Comprehensive Plan and Sharm El Sheikh deal, which secured the release of all hostages. He stressed that both parties carry obligations under these agreements and that achieving lasting peace is hard but achievable. His statement came after two days of Israeli strikes across Gaza that killed civilians and destroyed medical supplies, following intense efforts by the Board of Peace and mediators (Egypt, Turkiye, Qatar, and the US) to bring Palestinian factions to agree on a roadmap.

On the 500th day since Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu's detention, Turkish authorities placed Üsküdar Mayor Sinem Dedetaş in a high-security 'well-type' prison in Çorlu, joining other detainees linked to İmamoğlu's case. The article criticizes the use of such prisons for pretrial detainees and alleges judicial decisions are shifting political balances ahead of elections, including recent transfers of municipalities from CHP to AK Party.

Background: Turkish President Erdogan reaffirmed support for Turkish Cypriots and announced new infrastructure projects, including a subsea gas pipeline, while welcoming the UN chief's visit. Today, Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler stated in a written parliamentary response that Türkiye is updating the military readiness of its armed forces in response to developments on Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean, particularly growing cooperation among the US, Israel, Greece, and the Greek Cypriot administration. He noted that Türkiye is closely analyzing Israel's activities in areas controlled by the Greek Cypriot administration and taking necessary military and political measures. Güler emphasized preserving the sensitive balance on the island while ensuring the security of Türkiye and the TRNC. President Erdogan, after chairing a Cabinet meeting, reiterated that Türkiye will never abandon Turkish Cypriots and will continue infrastructure investments, including a subsea natural gas pipeline. He also stated that Türkiye is closely monitoring steps to make Cyprus part of new military alignments and geopolitical calculations.

Turkish security forces, using MIT facial recognition, arrested Burkay Karatepe, a former Turkish Armed Forces captain and the last fugitive member of the FETÖ assassination team that targeted President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during the 2016 coup attempt. Karatepe had been hiding for about a decade, working menial jobs and using fake IDs. He was captured in Afyonkarahisar with cash, gold, and drugs, and faces aggravated life imprisonment for the assassination attempt and related charges.

Turkey's Justice Ministry has initiated judicial investigations into 44 forest fires across 16 provinces since June 1, leading to the arrest of six suspects and judicial supervision of nine others. Justice Minister Akın Gürlek announced the measures, emphasizing that both deliberate arson and negligence will be prosecuted. The fires, exacerbated by high temperatures and strong winds, caused significant damage but no fatalities. Authorities are using forensic evidence, security footage, and witness statements to identify those responsible, underscoring the government's commitment to protecting Turkey's forests.

Background: During Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi's first official visit to Ankara, Iraq offered to supply Turkey with up to 1 million barrels of oil per day and signed a deal for Turkish Petroleum to acquire a 15% stake in BP's Kirkuk oilfield, amid discussions on the Development Road and water management. Today: The visit concluded with five agreements covering police training and academic cooperation, youth and sports, industrial property, rail and road transport via the Ovaköy-Fishkhabour border crossing, and a framework for water management infrastructure financed by oil. The water framework links Iraq's energy revenues to investments in irrigation, dams, and canals, addressing domestic water deficiencies. Turkey's role is expanding beyond transit to include production and investment, as TPAO's 15% stake in Kirkuk field operations demonstrates. The comprehensive energy agreement remains under negotiation, and the northern corridor, including the Kirkuk-Ceyhan Pipeline and the Development Road, is seen as a strategic alternative to reduce Iraq's dependence on the Strait of Hormuz route. These agreements reflect Iraq's strategy to diversify its dependencies across security, energy, transport, and water, reducing reliance on any single partner or export corridor, particularly in light of the Strait of Hormuz crisis. The agreements highlight Iraq's multi-partner foreign policy approach, engaging several partners in the same policy areas to distribute risks across security, energy, transport, and water.

Background: Turkey and Iraq had been negotiating a 12-month agreement to sustain crude oil exports through the Iraq-Turkey pipeline, which had been offline for 2.5 years due to an arbitration dispute. The pipeline, largely idle since 2023, resumed limited exports last year and currently carries about 200,000 barrels per day. On August 2, 2026, the two countries formally signed the one-year extension, covering a minimum export capacity of 750,000 barrels per day. The deal was finalized after a meeting in Ankara between Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar and Iraqi Oil Minister Bassem Mohammed Khudair, following Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi's visit to Ankara on Tuesday, where he met President Erdogan. Al-Zaidi described the deal as 'an important strategic milestone.' The extension is intended to bolster Iraq's oil export infrastructure and is seen as a boost to fragile global energy markets amid disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz caused by the U.S.-Iran war. Both governments will continue efforts toward a comprehensive framework agreement covering oil, electricity, and water resources.

Turkey is transforming the former Atatürk Airport in Istanbul into Terminal Istanbul, a massive technology and entrepreneurship center. The first phase, covering 5,000 square meters, opens this month, with the full 200,000-square-meter campus expected to be operational next year. The project aims to become the world's largest entrepreneurship hub, attracting global startups, investors, and accelerator programs. It will include an AI and software school, a science center, and exhibition venues. The initiative is part of Turkey's broader strategy to boost its tech ecosystem and increase the number of Turkish unicorns, with over 60 startups already secured for the initial phase.