Trump set to convene world leaders in Egypt for summit on Gaza next week

U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly scheduling a summit with world leaders in Egypt this week to discuss Gaza, according to the Axios news outlet. The report, published by Axios journalist Barak Ravid, is based on four informed but unnamed sources. American sources confirmed that Trump will attend the summit in Egypt.

Egyptian President Abdul Fattah el-Sisi will host the top meeting and has reportedly begun to invite leaders from the Arab world and various European countries. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the sources said foreign ministers from France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Indonesia, and Pakistan are expected to attend the high-profile meeting. The Saudi Kingdom, Qatar, Pakistan and Indonesia currently do not have official diplomatic relations with Israel.

While Israel is one of the signatories of the Gaza agreement, an unnamed U.S. official revealed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is currently not expected to attend the summit.

The summit in Egypt is expected to focus on securing international backing for the Trump administration’s Gaza peace plan. While both Israel and Hamas signed off on the first phase of the 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza, there are still unresolved issues to be finalized concerning post-war governance, security and reconstruction.

Informed sources revealed that the Egypt summit will likely be held this Monday or Tuesday in the city of Sharm el-Sheikh, where intense negotiations for the Gaza deal were held.

The Egyptian government has played a central role in mediating the agreement between the terrorist organization Hamas and Israel. Like Qatar, Egypt has a significant influence on Hamas, which is an ideological offshoot of the radical Muslim Brotherhood organization.

The Israel-Hamas ceasefire took effect on Friday morning after the Israeli Cabinet formally approved the Trump Gaza peace plan.

Addressing the political progress, Trump said, “For the most part, there is consensus” concerning how the next phase of the Gaza deal will be implemented. However, the president acknowledged that “some of the details … will be worked out.” Regarding the remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza, Trump confirmed that Hamas members are collecting them “now,” adding that the hostages are “in some pretty rough places.”

The agreement stipulates that Hamas must release all of the hostages within 72 hours after the ceasefire takes effect.

Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter recently spoke to All ISRAEL NEWS Editor-in-Chief Joel C. Rosenberg about Trump’s Gaza plan and the challenging diplomatic work involved in securing the release of the remaining 48 Israeli hostages, including 28 who are reportedly deceased.

While Israel degraded most of Hamas’ military capabilities, the terror group refused to surrender or release the hostages until now.

Leiter revealed that the key behind the Gaza deal was Trump’s ability to apply pressure on the countries that host and support Hamas leaders.

“President Trump decided that it was time to lay down the law with the countries that are hosting Hamas leaders,” Leiter explained. He said it turned out to be “a very, very effective threat,” demanding “either turn the screws on Hamas leaders and make sure that they follow through on what we want to get accomplished – a faster release of the hostages – or else you're going to have to throw them out of your countries.”