File photo: Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu (Picture credit: AP)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not attend Monday’s multinational Gaza peace summit in Egypt, following objections from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Iraq, diplomatic sources have claimed.As per news agency AFP, the sources said Erdoğan’s intervention, supported by other leaders, prompted Netanyahu’s last-minute cancellation, highlighting the sensitivities around his participation. A Turkish diplomatic source told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity, that “At the initiative of President (Recep Tayyip) Erdogan and through Turkey’s diplomatic efforts, with the support of other leaders, Netanyahu did not attend the meeting in Egypt.”An official statement from Netanyahu’s office cited the proximity of the summit to the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah as the reason for declining Trump’s invitation. Separately, an advisor to Iraqi Prime Minister Shia al-Sudani also claimed that the Iraqi delegation would boycott the summit if Netanyahu attended, prompting Cairo to inform Netanyahu he “could not be received, which led to the cancellation of his participation in the conference.” Earlier, Israeli PM had thanked Trump, saying, “The Prime Minister thanked President Trump for his invitation and for his efforts to expand the circle of peace — peace through strength.”The summit, being jointly chaired by US President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, aims to consolidate the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and set the stage for humanitarian relief and longer-term stability in Gaza. Over 20 world leaders were expected to attend, including Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.Trump, meanwhile, used his visit to Israel to urge the country to move from military victories to lasting peace. Addressing the Knesset, he said, “You’ve won. Now it is time to translate these victories against terrorists on the battlefield into the ultimate prize of peace and prosperity for the entire Middle East.” The US president also promised support for Gaza’s reconstruction and called on Palestinians to “turn forever from the path of terror and violence.”With Netanyahu absent, Trump and al-Sisi will lead the summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, which seeks to finalise arrangements for the release of hostages, humanitarian aid, and a partial pullback of Israeli forces from Gaza’s main cities. Approximately 200 US troops are expected to help monitor the ceasefire.