Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not attend the Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit in Egypt because of religious holidays, the Egyptian presidency said on Monday. US President Donald Trump had earlier proposed Netanyahu's participation in the summit during a phone call with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi while in Israel, according to a statement from Egypt's presidency. Trump was joined on the call by Netanyahu, during which the leaders agreed that the Israeli prime minister would take part in the summit alongside Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. The Sharm El-Sheikh gathering, hosted by Egypt in the Red Sea resort city, is aimed at reinforcing the Gaza ceasefire agreement and advancing regional peace efforts with the participation of international leaders and mediators. While Netanyahu's absence was officially attributed to observance of Jewish holidays, his decision draws quiet surprise among diplomats preparing for what world leaders have described as a "historic" meeting bringing together regional and international leaders to consolidate the fragile truce in Gaza. The summit is part of a broader diplomatic effort led by the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Türkiye to turn the latest ceasefire into a lasting peace framework and lay the groundwork for Gaza's reconstruction under Palestinian Authority oversight. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English
