Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will be attending an international summit in Egypt on Monday, alongside Donald Trump and other world leaders, to finalize an agreement aimed at ending the war in Gaza. The summit, hosted by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Sharm el-Sheikh, will also feature leaders from over 20 countries, including UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. The event comes as Trump's 20-point peace plan has opened the door for Abbas's Palestinian Authority (PA) to play a role, despite Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's rejection of its involvement. The PA, controlled by Fatah and governing parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, has been a key player in past peace efforts. However, Abbas's recent travel ban to New York, where he was denied entry to the UN General Assembly, raises questions about his ability to lead these negotiations. Abbas, aged 89, addressed the assembly via video, expressing his readiness to collaborate with world leaders on a peace plan for Israel and the Palestinians. He also emphasized his rejection of Hamas's governing role in Gaza and called for its disarmament. The summit's first phase, agreed upon by Israel and Hamas on Wednesday, resulted in a ceasefire that came into effect on Friday. This phase includes the expected exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners on Monday. The subsequent negotiations will focus on the governance of Gaza, the extent of Israeli troop withdrawal, and the disarmament of Hamas. Despite the summit's goals, both Israel and Hamas have confirmed that their officials will not attend. Egypt's foreign ministry has stated that a 'document ending the war in the Gaza Strip' is expected to be signed, and other world leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, Jordan's King Abdullah II, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, are confirmed attendees. Meanwhile, former UK Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair, expected to be part of a 'Board of Peace' under Trump's plan, met with the PA's Vice President Hussein al-Sheikh on Sunday. Al-Sheikh expressed readiness to collaborate with Trump, Blair, and other partners to ensure aid entry and hostage release, followed by 'recovery and reconstruction'. He also emphasized the importance of safeguarding the Palestinian Authority and the two-state solution, as well as preventing the undermining of international legitimacy for a comprehensive and lasting peace.
