Sharm el-sheikh: Egypt will host an international peace summit in the Red Sea resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday, co-chaired by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and his US counterpart Donald Trump.

According to Anadolu Agency, leaders and officials from 27 countries will participate in the summit. The gathering will include prominent figures such as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Jordan's King Abdullah II, and several other heads of state and government from regions spanning Europe, Asia, and North America. Notably, Israeli officials will not be present at the summit, as confirmed by the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The summit, as stated by Egyptian authorities, aims to address and resolve ongoing conflicts in the Gaza Strip and to foster peace and stability across the Middle East. This initiative is part of a broader effort to introduce a new phase of regional security and stability, with a focus on ending the violence and promoting dialogue.

The peace summit is also set to include leaders from international and regional organizations, such as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, European Council President Antonio Costa, and Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit. Their participation underscores the global interest and support for a peaceful resolution in the Middle East.

In a related development, President Trump recently announced the first phase of a 20-point plan to achieve a Gaza ceasefire, which involves a prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas. The plan's subsequent phase involves the establishment of a new governance structure in Gaza and the disarmament of Hamas.

Since October 2023, the conflict has resulted in devastating casualties, with over 67,600 Palestinians, primarily women and children, killed in Israeli attacks. The ongoing violence has left the region in a state of humanitarian crisis, making the outcomes of this summit particularly critical for future peace efforts.