Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh will represent India at Gaza peace summit in Egypt's Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday. A last-minute invitation was extended to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the high-profile event.
US President Donald Trump and 20 other world leaders are expected to attend the key event. People in the know of the developments confirmed the Union minister will represent India at the key peace meet. A last-minute invite was reportedly extended to India by both the US and Egypt.
Hosted by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the 'Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Summit' will discuss steps to bring lasting peace to Gaza as well as to the wider Middle East. The meet is being co-chaired by al-Sisi and Trump.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italy's Giorgia Meloni, French President Emmanuel Macron and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres are among leaders expected to attend the summit. A statement from Egypt said, "The summit will be co-chaired by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and US President Donald Trump, with the participation of leaders from more than 20 countries."
"The summit aims to end the war in the Gaza Strip, enhance efforts to bring peace and stability to the Middle East, and usher in a new phase of regional security and stability," it added.
The peace meet is taking place days after both Israel and Hamas agreed to a peace plan proposed by US President Trump. The ceasefire in Gaza came into effect on Friday. According to reports, Hamas is expected to release around 20 living hostages on Monday.
As many as 1,200 people died after Israel launched the war in Gaza following Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Hamas took 251 people as hostages, and over 50 of them are still in its captivity. According to Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, Israeli military operations have killed over 66,000 Palestinians since the beginning of the conflict. |
