Overview: A high-stakes gathering in Sharm El Sheikh
As President Donald Trump heads to Egypt for a landmark Gaza peace summit, the guest list reads like a snapshot of current regional diplomacy. Co-hosted with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Sharm El Sheikh, the summit aims 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,” according to the Egyptian presidency. The event follows Trump’s brief stop in Israel, where he is expected to speak to the Knesset and meet families of hostages, signaling a multi-pronged push to shape the next phase of the Gaza crisis.
Key attendees: a mix of mediators, power brokers, and allies
The guest list features a blend of heads of state, regional mediators, and international figures seen as influential in the current ceasefire and hostage-release framework. The lineup underscores a strategy to solidify the ceasefire and align on the roadmap for post-conflict governance and security arrangements in Gaza.
- Donald Trump — The U.S. president seeks to press forward elements of his peace plan and gather assurances on how Gaza should be governed after the fighting ends, including the future role of Hamas within a broader political framework.
- Abdel Fattah al-Sisi — Egypt’s president has been a pivotal broker in negotiations between Israel and Hamas, and his invitation for Trump to take a symbolic victory lap indicates Cairo’s continued stake in keeping the ceasefire intact.
- Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani — Qatar’s emir has long played a mediating role in the conflict and reportedly pushed for a strong tie between Trump’s approach and ongoing peace efforts.
- M Mahmoud Abbas — The Palestinian Authority president’s presence signals a potential emphasis on Palestinian governance considerations, even as the path forward for Abbas’s role remains contentious among regional leaders and Israel.
The conference also draws a broad roster of international leaders, reinforcing the summit’s aim to gather diverse perspectives on security, humanitarian concerns, and regional stability.
Other notable participants
The guest list extends beyond the region, including leaders and representatives from Europe, Asia, and North America, reflecting a wide interest in shaping a durable peace framework. Notable attendees include:
- Emmanuel Macron (France)
- Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (Turkey)
- Keir Starmer (UK)
- Pedro Sánchez (Spain)
- Giorgia Meloni (Italy)
- Antonio Costa (European Council President)
- António Guterres (UN)
- Ahmed Aboul Gheit (Arab League)
- King Abdullah II (Jordan)
- Ahmad Al Sabah (Kuwait)
- King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa (Bahrain)
- Prabowo Subianto (Indonesia)
- Ilham Aliyev (Azerbaijan)
- Friedrich Merz (Germany)
- Kyriakos Mitsotakis (Greece)
- Nikol Pashinyan (Armenia)
- Viktor Orbán (Hungary)
- Shehbaz Sharif (Pakistan)
- Mark Carney (Canada) and Jonas Gahr Store (Norway)
- Mohammed Shia al-Sudani (Iraq)
Together, these attendees reflect a spectrum of regional and international influence, from mediators to strategic allies, all focused on stabilizing a volatile region and evaluating the future structure of governance in Gaza.
Who isn’t attending—and why it matters
Several key players are notably absent, a reality that can shape the summit’s outcomes as much as the invited participants’ statements. Israeli officials will not send a representative, according to a Netanyahu spokesperson. This absence underscores ongoing sensitivities and the complexity of achieving consensus on Gaza’s immediate post-conflict governance while negotiations continue behind the scenes. Hamas has declined formal involvement, stating it will not participate in the talks and instead relies on mediators. Iran, despite press reports of an invitation, declined participation at the presidential or foreign-minister level, citing broader geopolitical tensions and recent hostilities with the U.S. and its allies.
What this means for the peace process
The summit’s success hinges on more than a ceremonial show of unity. It rests on tangible commitments about governance in Gaza, security arrangements, and the role of Palestinian leadership in any forthcoming ceasefire agreement. The presence of Abbas and other key leaders suggests a willingness to discuss governance models that could shape the region’s political map. Yet the conspicuous absence of Israeli participation and Hamas’s non-participation highlight a potential mismatch between lofty stated goals and on-the-ground political realities.
Looking ahead
Monday’s talks will be a barometer for how far world powers are willing to go to preserve a ceasefire and push toward a practical peace framework. Observers will watch for concrete proposals, such as security guarantees, humanitarian access, reconstruction funding, and a credible path toward Palestinian political inclusion. If the summit can produce a shared blueprint that satisfies both regional aspirations and international concerns, it could represent a meaningful step toward regional stability in a deeply fractured landscape.
