Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not attend the Cairo-ordered Gaza summit on 13 October, citing opposition from foreign leaders, while the meeting proceeded to sign a ceasefire accord.
Netanyahu skips Cairo‑ordered summit
Benjamin Netanyahu was absent from the Egypt summit on Gaza peace, stating that the invitation was not tailored to him. The Israeli prime minister cited objections from foreign leaders as the chief reason for his non‑attendance.
Countries that objected
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez openly accused Israel of genocide, leading them to insist that Netanyahu should not participate. An unnamed Turkish informant told AFP that the decision was driven by Erdogan’s initiative and supported by Turkey’s diplomatic allies.
Iraq’s proposed boycott
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Szijy as‑Sudaniego’s adviser Ali al‑Mousawi warned that if Netanyahu appeared, Iraq would boycott the meeting. He noted that several other delegations had signaled their intent to withdraw if the Israeli leader attended.
Outcome of the summit
U.S. President attended the Cairo summit on 13 October with more than twenty states, including the U.K., France, Italy, and Spain. Together with mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, they signed a ceasefire agreement for the Gaza Strip.
Key terms of the agreement
The agreement calls for a complete demilitarization of Gaza and a conference on its reconstruction, outlining a path toward a two‑state solution that can secure peace for both Israel and Palestine. It also stipulates the release of 1,968 Palestinian prisoners and the return of 20 Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
