More than 20 nations are expected to participate in the summit, which will be co-chaired by U. S. President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. Among confirmed attendees are UN Secretary-General António Guterres and the leaders of Italy, Spain and Jordan. Macron’s attendance underscores France’s push to play a more assertive role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The deal’s first phase calls for Hamas to release Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, and for Israeli forces to begin withdrawal from key parts of Gaza. Under the terms, Israel would gradually lift restrictions and withdraw troops from populated areas, while hostages are freed over a staged timeline. Hamas has rejected disarmament requirements, and Israel’s own participation in the summit remains uncertain.
Starmer has previously voiced support for the agreement, stressing that it must be implemented without delay and paired with a full humanitarian relief effort to Gaza. He credited diplomatic work by the U. S., Egypt, Qatar and Turkey in paving the way for the deal and plans in Egypt to call for international oversight of the ceasefire’s deployment.
Macron, in line with France’s growing diplomatic footprint, is expected to press for stronger European-Arab coordination and for the rebuilding of Gaza under a mechanism that avoids exclusive dominance by any one party. His decision to attend signals a shift from cautious diplomacy to proactive engagement.
The summit faces internal tensions: Israel has not confirmed full participation, and Hamas has publicly declined involvement, citing objections to external governance models and disarmament clauses. Meanwhile, Qatar—long a mediator in Gaza talks—suffered a blow when three of its diplomats were killed in a car accident en route to Sharm el-Sheikh.
Egypt has framed the summit as a turning point, asserting that it can help shift regional dynamics by hosting the final agreement signing and by amplifying its role as mediator. In Israeli quarters, the accord comes amid questions over security guarantees, the presence of armed groups in Gaza, and how to reintegrate local governance without Hamas.
Over the weekend, hundreds of Palestinians have begun returning to northern Gaza, pressing amid extensive destruction, limited services and a fragile truce. International aid groups are preparing logistical delivery at scale, but challenges persist: damaged infrastructure, border bottlenecks, and disagreements over oversight remain unresolved.
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