India to Participate in Gaza Peace Summit
India will be represented by Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti V Singh at the high-level Gaza peace summit in Egypt, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar were unable to attend on short notice.
Key Details
- PM Modi received invitation from US President Trump and Egypt President El-Sisi
- Summit to be held in Sharm El-Sheikh, co-chaired by US and Egyptian leaders
- Over 20 countries participating including major global powers
- Israel and Hamas not directly participating in talks
India’s Representation
Despite receiving a personal invitation, scheduling conflicts prevented PM Modi’s attendance. The invitation was delivered on Saturday, leaving insufficient time for the Prime Minister or External Affairs Minister to rearrange their commitments.
PM Modi will instead host Mongolia President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa on Tuesday, while EAM Jaishankar has bilateral talks scheduled with Canadian counterpart Anita Anand on Monday.
Summit Participants and Context
The gathering includes leaders from France, Germany, Turkey, UK, Italy, Pakistan, Spain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the European Union. The talks follow the successful mediation of the first-phase agreement between Israel and Hamas, which included ceasefire arrangements and prisoner-hostage exchanges.
India’s Stance on Gaza Peace
Prime Minister Modi has consistently supported Trump’s Gaza peace initiatives, describing hostage release indications as “a significant step forward in ongoing humanitarian and diplomatic efforts.” India has committed to supporting all initiatives that contribute to durable and just peace in the region.
According to Egyptian officials, the summit aims to “enhance efforts to bring peace and stability to the Middle East, and usher in a new phase of regional security and stability.”
President Trump is scheduled to address the Israeli Parliament in Jerusalem before proceeding to Egypt for the world leaders’ summit focused on ending the Gaza conflict.
