Israel’s Netanyahu declines invitation to attend Gaza peace summit in Egypt

📷REUTERS

Sharm El-Sheikh, October 13, 2025 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not attend Monday’s Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit on ending the war in Gaza, his office said, after Egypt had earlier announced his expected participation.

Netanyahu’s office said the prime minister was invited by U.S. President Donald Trump to join the meeting of world leaders but declined “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,” his office added.

An Egyptian presidential spokesperson said earlier that both Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Netanyahu had been expected to take part in the summit “to solidify the agreement to end the war in Gaza and reaffirm their commitment to it.”

The spokesperson added that President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi held phone discussions with both Trump and Netanyahu on Monday while they were in Israel.

A Turkish official told Reuters that President Tayyip Erdogan, supported by several other leaders, opposed Netanyahu’s attendance at the summit.

Turkey has sharply criticized Israel’s operations in Gaza over the past two years but has participated in recent talks on Trump’s peace plan. Erdogan arrived in Sharm El-Sheikh earlier on Monday.