Egypt is hosting a pivotal international summit in Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday, October 13th, bringing together world leaders to finalize an agreement aimed at ending the two-year war in Gaza. The summit, co-chaired by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and US President Donald Trump, will include leaders from more than twenty countries .
The gathering seeks to build upon a fragile ceasefire that took effect on October 10th . This ceasefire has already allowed hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians to begin returning to their homes in northern Gaza, where they have encountered widespread devastation . For many, the return is bittersweet, with one resident describing feelings of joy mixed with pain upon seeing the destruction .
According to Egyptian authorities, the goal of the Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Summit is to "end the war in the Gaza Strip, enhance efforts to achieve peace and stability in the Middle East, and usher in a new era of regional security and stability" . The proceedings will begin with a bilateral meeting between Presidents al-Sisi and Trump, followed by a plenary session .
Confirmed attendees include a significant lineup of Western and regional leaders, such as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan . Key Arab leaders like Jordan's King Abdullah II and the Qatari Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, are also participating . United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres will be in attendance as well . While the Palestinian Authority (PA) was not officially invited, PA President Mahmoud Abbas is reported to be attending and has requested a separate meeting with President al-Sisi . Hamas will not be present at the summit .
The summit follows the announcement of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire, which is the first phase of a broader agreement . A key part of this initial phase is the expected release of the remaining Israeli hostages held in Gaza, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees in Israel .
However, major parts of President Trump's 20-point peace plan have not been agreed upon, creating significant challenges for the summit. A major sticking point is the future disarmament of Hamas, which a senior Hamas official has stated is "out of the question and not negotiable" . The group also rejects proposals for its members to leave Gaza . Furthermore, while the Trump plan leaves open the possibility of a role for a reformed Palestinian Authority in Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly rejected any PA involvement .
For Palestinians, the summit represents a critical moment that must address their fundamental rights and aspirations. The devastating human cost of the war, with over 67,000 Palestinians killed, underscores the urgent need for a lasting solution that prioritizes Palestinian lives and self-determination .
The Trump plan mentions that conditions may eventually be in place for a "credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood," recognizing this as the aspiration of the Palestinian people . A senior Palestinian official has expressed readiness to work with the U.S. and international partners to consolidate the ceasefire and begin recovery and reconstruction . The success of the Sharm el-Sheikh summit will ultimately depend on its ability to translate the current fragile calm into a just and lasting peace that addresses the root causes of the conflict.