Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not attend a peace summit on Gaza in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, on Monday, his office said, citing a scheduling conflict with the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah.
In a statement, Netanyahu thanked U.S. President Donald Trump for the invitation but said he would be unable to attend because the holiday begins Monday evening and continues until sunset Tuesday.
Netanyahu also expressed appreciation for Trump’s efforts to “expand the circle of peace and strengthen peace through strength,” the statement said.
The Egyptian presidency had previously confirmed that both Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas would participate in the summit aimed at reinforcing the cease-fire in Gaza. A spokesperson for the Egyptian presidency said the summit was intended to solidify the truce and ensure the commitment of all parties.
The spokesperson also noted that Trump had called Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi during a visit to Israel, coordinating the proposed participation of Netanyahu in the summit.
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