Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt – October 13, 2025 — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will participate in an international peace summit in Egypt on Monday, alongside former US President Donald Trump and other global leaders, to finalize an agreement aimed at ending the devastating war in Gaza, his office confirmed.

The high-profile gathering, hosted by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in the resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh, is expected to bring together leaders from more than 20 nations, including UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, Jordan’s King Abdullah II, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan. UN Secretary-General António Guterres will also be in attendance.

According to Egypt’s foreign ministry, the summit aims to end the war in Gaza, restore regional stability, and initiate a new phase of peace and cooperation across the Middle East. Officials said a “document to end the war in Gaza” could be signed during the event.

Trump’s Peace Plan and Abbas’s Role

The gathering follows the announcement of the first phase of Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan, which both Israel and Hamas accepted earlier this week. The initial agreement — which brought a ceasefire into effect on Friday — includes a hostage-prisoner exchange scheduled for Monday.

Subsequent rounds of talks will determine the future governance of Gaza, the scope of Israeli troop withdrawal, and the disarmament of Hamas. Both Israel and Hamas have said they will not attend the summit, though they have endorsed the ongoing peace framework.

Trump’s proposal leaves open the possibility of a reformed Palestinian Authority (PA) playing a role in Gaza’s post-war governance. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected the PA’s involvement.

The Palestinian Authority, led by Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah movement, currently administers parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank and serves as the main internationally recognized body representing Palestinians through the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).

Abbas’s International Engagement and Vision

Abbas, 89, was invited personally by President Sisi. His participation marks a major return to the international stage after being barred from attending the UN General Assembly in New York last month, when the US State Department revoked visas for him and 80 other Palestinian officials.

Addressing the UN via video, Abbas had reiterated his willingness to work with global partners on a comprehensive peace plan, rejecting any future role for Hamas in Gaza unless it fully disarms.

Diplomatic Preparations Ahead of Summit

In the lead-up to the conference, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, expected to serve on the “Board of Peace” overseeing Gaza’s reconstruction, met with Palestinian Vice President Hussein al-Sheikh on Sunday.

Following the meeting, al-Sheikh stated on X (formerly Twitter) that the Palestinian Authority was ready to cooperate with Trump, Blair, and international mediators to facilitate aid delivery, release of hostages and detainees, and the rebuilding of Gaza.

He emphasized the need to restore withheld Palestinian revenues and safeguard the two-state solution, calling for respect for international legitimacy and an end to actions that weaken the PA.

Background of the Conflict

The Gaza war erupted after Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed about 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages being taken.

In response, Israel launched an extensive military campaign that, according to Gaza’s health ministry, has killed more than 67,000 Palestinians, including over 18,000 children.

As world leaders gather in Egypt, hopes are rising that the Sharm el-Sheikh summit could mark.