Netanyahu will not attend Gaza peace summit in Egypt

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not attend the peace summit on ending the Gaza war scheduled to take place in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on Monday, his office confirmed, contradicting earlier statements from Cairo that he would participate.

In a statement, Netanyahu’s office said the prime minister had been invited by US President Donald Trump to join the gathering of world leaders aimed at advancing a ceasefire and peace framework for Gaza, but would not be attending “due to the timing’s proximity to the beginning of a Jewish holiday.”

“The Prime Minister thanked President Trump for his invitation and for his efforts to expand the circle of peace — peace through strength,” the statement added.

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Earlier, an Egyptian presidential spokesperson had said that both Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Netanyahu were expected to take part in the summit, which was being organized “to solidify the agreement to end the war in Gaza and reaffirm their commitment to it.”

The spokesperson also confirmed that President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi had spoken by phone with both Trump and Netanyahu while they were in Israel on Monday, in what appeared to be part of ongoing diplomatic coordination ahead of the summit.