US President Donald Trump has declared the Gaza war over. As Hamas releases hostages and Israel sends back prisoners, Egypt prepares for a diplomatic gathering -- one that can solidify peace in Gaza. The gathering in Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday is being seen as the first step to the enclave's post-war reconstruction.
The summit will bring together "leaders from more than 20 countries", Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's office said. It will seek "to end the war in the Gaza Strip, enhance efforts to achieve peace and stability in the Middle East, and usher in a new era of regional security".
On Sunday, the Egyptian foreign ministry said a "document ending the war in the Gaza Strip" was expected to be signed during the "historic" gathering.
The summit was aimed at inaugurating "a new chapter of peace and security... and alleviating the suffering of the Palestinian people" in Gaza, it said in a statement.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he would attend, as will British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni and Pedro Sanchez of Spain.
French President Emmanuel Macron and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will also travel to Sharm el-Sheikh, according to their offices.
The European Council will be represented by its president, Antonio Costa, a spokesperson said.
The plan for Gaza "offers a real chance to build a just and sustainable peace, and the EU is fully committed to supporting these efforts and contributing to its implementation", the spokesperson added.
Jordan's King Abdullah II is also expected to attend, according to state media.
There was no immediate word on whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would participate, while Hamas has said it will not take part.
Humanitarian groups are gearing up to flood aid into Gaza, which has also been ravaged by famine and deadly diseases.
Tens of thousands of tonnes of supplies are positioned in neighbouring countries such as Jordan and Egypt. Under the terms of the first phase of the deal, aid is meant to surge into Gaza, and humanitarian groups are preparing to send in about 600 truckloads of food and medical supplies a day.
The UK is also planning to a hold a separate international summit that will solely focus on making Gaza habitable again. Representatives of Palestinian Authority as well as Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Germany and Italy will be present. Other participants will include the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the World Bank and private sector financiers.
