Combined images of (From L to R) Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
A foreign ministry statement said the two sides discussed final arrangements for the summit, including its agenda, expected international participation, and the next steps in implementing the first phase of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.
The ceasefire, brokered by Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and the US, went into effect on Friday after days of intense mediation in Sharm El-Sheikh.
The summit, which was called by President El-Sisi, aims to rally broader international support for Trump’s 20-point Gaza plan to end the war in Gaza.
Secretary Rubio called the upcoming summit a "unique historical event" and praised El-Sisi's "distinguished and pioneering role" in facilitating the breakthrough that led to the accord, according to the foreign ministry statement.
For his part, Minister Abdelatty conveyed President El-Sisi’s "great appreciation" for President Trump’s peace plan.
He underscored the critical importance of moving from agreement to action, emphasizing the need for diligent implementation through both the first and second phases of the plan.
“This agreement provides hope to the peoples of the region, especially the Palestinian people,” the statement quoted him as saying.
Additionally, he presented these developments as a testament to the shared values and goals of Egypt and the US, rooted in a commitment to peaceful conflict resolution rather than military confrontation.
Egypt’s top diplomat further affirmed that resolving the Palestinian issue through a two-state solution is the fundamental key to achieving lasting stability, peace, and security across the Middle East.
Axios reported, citing four sources familiar with the plans, that Egypt has reached out to the leaders or foreign ministers of Germany, France, the UK, Italy, Qatar, the UAE, Jordan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Indonesia, inviting them to participate.
The summit would likely be scheduled for Tuesday in the Egyptian Red Sea resort, though the timing could shift to Monday, Axios reported.
The ceasefire's initial phase has seen hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians begin to return to Gaza City and northern areas after the Israeli occupation army pulled its troops back to agreed-upon lines.
The Israeli army withdrew from much of Gaza City and the southern city of Khan Younis, though troops remain in most of Rafah, the towns of Gaza’s far north, and a wide strip along the border with Israel.
As part of the initial deal, Hamas is scheduled to release the 20 living Israeli captives within 72 hours of the Israeli pullback.
In exchange, Israel will release about 2,000 Palestinians, including those serving prison sentences and others seized from Gaza during the war.
Negotiations for the next phases of the ceasefire deal are set to begin afterwards.
Short link: