What's happened
Leaders gathered in Egypt for a Gaza ceasefire summit, but Israel's Netanyahu did not attend due to regional opposition and diplomatic tensions. Turkey actively worked to block his participation, citing regional support and diplomatic efforts. The summit aims to support Gaza's ceasefire, excluding Israel and Hamas.
What's behind the headline?
The summit's exclusion of Netanyahu underscores regional and diplomatic tensions surrounding Gaza. Erdogan's active role in blocking Israel's participation reveals Turkey's strategic aim to assert regional influence and oppose Israeli policies. The absence of Israel and Hamas signals a deepening diplomatic divide, with the summit serving as a platform for regional powers to shape Gaza's future without Israeli involvement. This move may weaken prospects for a unified ceasefire agreement, as key stakeholders are sidelined. The diplomatic maneuvering highlights the broader contest for influence in the Middle East, with Turkey and Egypt positioning themselves as regional leaders opposing Israeli and Western policies. The summit's success will depend on whether these regional actors can forge a sustainable framework for Gaza's reconstruction and stability, despite the diplomatic rift.
What the papers say
The Times of Israel reports that Russia's influence in the Middle East has declined following Putin's failed efforts to rally Arab leaders for a Gaza governance summit, which was postponed amid regional tensions and Russia's strained resources after invading Ukraine. AP News details Turkey's active diplomatic efforts to block Netanyahu's attendance, with Erdogan leading regional opposition due to Turkey's support for Hamas and its broader regional ambitions. The New Arab confirms Erdogan's role in preventing Netanyahu's participation, citing regional support and diplomatic pressure, and notes Erdogan's plane aborted its landing at Sharm el-Sheikh due to a runway issue. The New Arab also highlights the broader regional context, including Egypt's decision not to invite the Palestinian Authority and the extensive list of international invitees, excluding Israel and Hamas, for the upcoming Gaza ceasefire summit. These sources collectively illustrate the complex regional diplomacy and shifting alliances shaping the Gaza conflict and its international response.
How we got here
The summit in Egypt was convened to discuss Gaza's ceasefire and postwar arrangements, with support from multiple countries including the US, Egypt, and European nations. Netanyahu's initial acceptance was withdrawn due to regional diplomatic pressures, notably from Turkey and Iraq, which oppose his participation. Turkey's opposition is linked to its support for Hamas and regional influence efforts, while Egypt's decision not to invite the Palestinian Authority reflects disagreements over Gaza's governance and US-led postwar plans.
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