US President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi will lead a peace summit in Gaza in Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday, October 13, along with several world leaders. Israel, which has agreed to the first phase of the peace plan, is not scheduled to attend. Axios, including the Palestinian militant group Hamas to skip it, AFP reported citing a senior leader.
According to the Egyptian presidency, the meeting will take place on Monday afternoon in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh “with the participation of leaders from more than twenty countries,” with a focus on “ending the war in the Gaza Strip, strengthening efforts to achieve peace and stability in the Middle East, and ushering in a new era of regional security and stability.” AFP report noted.
Who will be present at the Middle East Plan Summit?
UN Secretary-General António Guterres confirmed he will attend, along with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Spain's Pedro Sánchez. French President Emmanuel Macron will also participate.
Will Hamas attend the Middle East summit?
Hossam Badran, member of Hamas's political bureau, inquired AFP that the Palestinian militant group “will not be involved” as it “acted mainly through Qatari and Egyptian mediators” during previous discussions on Gaza.
When will Hamas release the Israeli hostages held in Gaza?
A senior official of the Palestinian militant group Hamas also said this AFP that they will begin releasing Israeli hostages held in Gaza on Monday morning, ahead of Trump's summit in Egypt. “According to the signed agreement, the prisoner exchange, as agreed, will begin on Monday morning,” Hamas official Osama Hamdan said.
Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Agreement: What Did Trump Say?
“It's a great deal for Israel, but it's a great deal for everyone, for Arabs, for Muslims, everyone, for the world. The hostages are coming back on Monday. They're in some pretty rough places under the earth. Only a few people know where they are… They're also getting about 28 bodies. Some of those bodies are being exhumed as we speak. It's a tragedy. I'm going to Israel. I'll be speaking at the Knesset. Then I will also go to Egypt. Everyone wants this deal to go through.” ANI Trump quoted at the White House.
He added: “I think Gaza will be rebuilt. There are some very rich countries there. To do that would require a small part of their wealth. Gaza is very important, but this is outside Gaza. This is peace in the Middle East. It is a beautiful thing.”
Israel-Hamas war
Meanwhile, more than 67,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have reportedly been killed in the Israeli assault on Gaza. The conflict began when Hamas launched an incursion into Israel, resulting in 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages.
The negotiations, facilitated by Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, with the involvement of US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, led to the ceasefire and reportedly a subsequent boost in humanitarian aid to Gaza.
(With input from agencies)
