Egypt Gaza Summit: Trump and Sisi to lead signing ceremony. Israel and Hamas excluded. Abu Mazen to attend. Iran invited but "undecided."
Throughout the day, the most noticeable absence was that of the Palestinian National Authority. According to some sources, it had not been invited to the “Sharm el Sheikh Peace Summit”. But in the evening, the denial came: Abu Mazen will be present, Axios and Al Araby television announced. And there is more: the Palestinian vice president, Hussein al-Sheikh, met in Amman with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair to discuss the situation after the war in the Gaza Strip, just before the summit in Sharm. For this meeting, he published a post on X, along with a photo with Blair: “We discussed the importance of stopping the weakening of the Palestinian National Authority”. So that absence that seemed so pronounced, turned into an unexpected turn: the most unexpected meeting of the day.
Everything is ready for the historic day in Sharm el-Sheikh, where in the afternoon the signing ceremony of the agreement for the implementation of the peace plan will take place, followed by the international summit called the “Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Summit”, led by Egyptian President Al-Sisi and US President Donald Trump. In an official statement, the Egyptian presidency announced the main objectives of the meeting, to which over twenty countries have been invited: “Ending the war in the Gaza Strip” and “strengthening efforts to bring peace and stability to the Middle East”, with the aim of “opening a new phase of regional security and stability”.
Barring last-minute changes, representatives from 22 countries will attend Sharm to discuss Gaza and peace: Italy, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Germany, Canada, Japan, India, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Pakistan, Indonesia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Hungary, Greece and Cyprus.
There will be no representatives from Hamas, but apparently neither from Israel, which according to the Times of Israel was not invited because the event “is not for the parties.” Meanwhile, Iran has been invited and has sent mixed signals: President Massoud Pezeshkian will not be there, but has forwarded the invitation to Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The latter has expressed undecidedness and stressed that Tehran supports “any action that brings an end to the Israeli attacks on Gaza,” but has “serious doubts” about the commitment of its eternal enemy – Israel and the US – to a genuine ceasefire.
The participation has been confirmed by the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, while the European Union will be represented by the Prime Minister of the European Council, António Costa. From Europe, the participation will also be Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, French President Macron, German Chancellor Merz, British Prime Minister Starmer, Spanish Prime Minister Sánchez and Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis. Also in Sharm will be the leaders of two Middle Eastern states that have played a key role in the negotiations for the agreement: Turkey (with President Erdogan) and Qatar (most likely with Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani).
The ceremony will be co-chaired by Egyptian President Al Sisi and Trump himself, who arrives in Sharm after a brief visit to Israel, where he is expected to deliver a short speech to the Knesset and meet with the families of the hostages.
And while everyone is talking about the historical importance of the “Peace Summit,” while heads of state (and not only) are celebrating the day illuminated by the release of 48 hostages who had been held by Hamas for 737 days, Qatar is mourning the loss of three of its diplomats who – according to the embassy in Cairo – lost their lives in a road accident in southern Sinai, Egypt. The delegation was headed to Sharm for preparations for the peace summit, when the car they were traveling in overturned, killing the three diplomats (including Prince Saud bin Thamer Al Thani) and injuring two others. That same destination – Sharm el Sheikh – that was part of their tragic journey, could today become the place where the seeds of a peaceful future for Gaza are sown.
