Genocide is ending. Will Egypt celebrate peace?

Egypt is preparing for a major “celebration.” U.S. President Donald Trump and several other world leaders are set to meet in Egypt today, October 13. The long-standing Palestinian–Israeli conflict, remembered as one of the greatest tragedies of the century, is expected to come to an end at the summit hosted by Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

As you may recall, on October 8 this year, the first stage of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was achieved during talks held in Egypt’s Sharm El-Sheikh with the mediation of the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey. The parties reached preliminary agreements on certain terms of the deal. By October 13, they are reconvening to reach compromises on other remaining issues.

The United States, which took responsibility for monitoring the implementation of the agreement, deployed 200 troops to Israel on October 10. Their main task is to provide logistical, transportation, engineering, and planning assistance, as well as to oversee the mechanism designed to prevent incidents and ensure compliance with the terms of the agreement.

Ahead of the summit, both sides began releasing prisoners as part of the initial terms of the agreement. Displaced Palestinians who were forced to leave their homes due to the war are returning. The conflict, which has claimed the lives of 67,000 Palestinians, is expected to conclude soon.

Who are the summit participants?

Before the summit, U.S. President Donald Trump visited Israel early in the morning at the invitation of Prime Minister Netanyahu and delivered a speech at the Knesset in Jerusalem. Later that day, Trump will fly to Egypt to co-chair the summit.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had announced on October 12 that no representatives from Israel would attend the summit in Egypt. However, later reports confirmed that Netanyahu himself would fly to Egypt. In the last few hours, new information has emerged in the media. According to reports, after hearing that Netanyahu might attend the Sharm El-Sheikh summit, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan initially refused to land in Egypt. His plane reportedly circled over the Red Sea and only landed once Netanyahu’s participation was cancelled. Sources say Erdoğan had previously made it clear that he would not take part in any summit attended by Netanyahu.

Meanwhile, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas confirmed his participation in the summit. However, like Israel, Hamas representatives will not be attending the event.

In addition, UN Secretary-General António Guterres and French President Emmanuel Macron have confirmed their attendance.

According to reports, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani are also expected to participate. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who mediated in the early stages of the peace process, is also expected to attend.

According to The Guardian, European leaders attending the summit include UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

From Asia, attendees include Jordan’s King Abdullah II, Kuwaiti Prime Minister Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah, Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

From across the Atlantic, alongside the U.S. president, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will also be present in Egypt today.

Not only heads of state but also prominent representatives of international organizations are expected to attend the summit. Among them are European Council President António Costa, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, and Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit.

Meanwhile, Iran’s administration announced it will not participate in the summit. According to Reuters, although Egypt invited Iran to attend, both President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed on October 13 that they would not be taking part.

What to expect from the summit?

Expectations for the much-discussed summit are high. The main goal is to finalize the remaining points of Trump’s proposed 20-point peace agreement. The agenda includes ending the war and signing a permanent peace treaty, defining borders, demilitarization, refugee issues, financial aid, and infrastructure development.

Moreover, reports suggest that Israel and Egypt plan to honor Donald Trump, who was previously overlooked for the Nobel Peace Prize. On October 12, Israeli President Isaac Herzog announced that Trump would be awarded Israel’s highest honor—the Medal of Honor—for his efforts in securing the release of hostages from Gaza and ending the ongoing conflict.

“President Trump’s tireless efforts not only helped bring our loved ones home but also laid the foundation for a new era in the Middle East—one built on genuine hope for security, cooperation, and a peaceful future,” Herzog said.

According to Egypt Today, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi decided to award Trump the Order of the Nile on October 13. In his statement yesterday, Sisi noted that the summit itself was a result of Trump’s vision for peace in the region and his ongoing efforts to resolve global conflicts.

Is this a compensation for the Nobel Prize, or a sincere gesture of gratitude for his efforts?

Many issues remain unresolved, and it is too early to say that all sides have fully reconciled. Yet with around 20 nations and leading international organizations gathering in one place, hopes for peace are high. In any case, the end of a long and bloody war would not only be a victory for Palestine or Israel but also, in some sense, a celebration for the entire world.

                                                                     Temur Suvonov