On Monday, October 13, 2025, the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, became the stage for a high-stakes diplomatic drama, as world leaders gathered to sign a declaration supporting a ceasefire in Gaza. What should have been a straightforward summit to mark an end to years of conflict in the Gaza Strip instead became a showcase for behind-the-scenes maneuvering, tense standoffs, and last-minute reversals that rippled across the region.
At the center of the controversy was Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who made no secret of his opposition to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s presence at the summit. According to statements from Omer Celik, spokesman for Erdogan’s ruling party, Ankara had not only objected to Netanyahu’s attendance but had actively devised plans to prevent the Israeli leader from setting foot at the meeting. As reported by the Associated Press, Celik clarified, “Our president’s stance is absolutely clear. He would never accept being in the same photo frame as Netanyahu. He would not accept being at the same summit. He wouldn’t accept sitting at the same table.”
The summit, which was also attended by U.S. President Donald Trump, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, and Qatari leaders, was intended to signal a new chapter for Gaza. Erdogan, a vocal critic of Israel’s military actions in Gaza and a government maintaining ties with Hamas, was among the signatories of the four-party declaration. The document was meant to “end the war in the Gaza Strip,” as reported by AFP, bringing together a rare confluence of leaders with often competing agendas.
The diplomatic intrigue began when Netanyahu’s attendance was confirmed by the Egyptian presidency, only to be rescinded less than an hour later. The Israeli leader’s office attributed his sudden withdrawal to the timing of the Jewish holiday of Simhat Torah, which began at sundown that very day. Yet, as multiple sources including AFP and the Associated Press have detailed, the real story was far more complex.
Behind closed doors, Erdogan had already launched a diplomatic effort to block Netanyahu’s participation, gaining the backing of other regional leaders. A Turkish diplomatic source told AFP, “At the initiative of President Erdogan and through Turkey’s diplomatic efforts – with the support of other leaders – Netanyahu did not attend the meeting in Egypt.” The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed that this initiative quickly gathered momentum as other nations joined Turkey’s push.
One of the most significant allies in this effort was Iraq. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, according to the state-run Iraqi News Agency and confirmed by his adviser Ali al-Mousawi to AFP, warned Egyptian and U.S. officials that Iraq would withdraw from the summit if Netanyahu attended. “The Iraqi delegation informed the Egyptian side that it was not prepared to participate in the regional summit if Netanyahu attended,” al-Mousawi said. “A number of other delegations have announced their intention to withdraw if Netanyahu participates.”
The mounting pressure left the Egyptian hosts in a bind. Cairo, according to AFP, ultimately informed Netanyahu that he “could not be received,” prompting the Israeli leader’s office to issue a statement citing the Jewish holiday as the official reason for his absence. Netanyahu’s office declined to comment further on the matter, leaving the diplomatic back-and-forth shrouded in a veil of official silence.
As the drama unfolded, Turkish media reported that Erdogan, en route to Sharm el-Sheikh, learned of Netanyahu’s expected attendance and delayed his landing. Reports suggested that his plane circled above the Red Sea, refusing to touch down until he received confirmation that Netanyahu would not be present. However, Hurriyet newspaper, which is closely aligned with the Turkish government, dismissed these claims, attributing the aborted landing to a runway issue rather than a political standoff.
Despite the behind-the-scenes wrangling, the summit proceeded without Netanyahu. In his speech the following day, Erdogan hailed the declaration signed in Egypt as a “significant step toward halting what he described as ‘genocide’ in Gaza,” according to the Associated Press. Erdogan has repeatedly accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza—an allegation Israel strongly denies. “The devastation caused by the genocide may never be fully repaired,” Erdogan said. “Rebuilding Gaza will likely take years.”
The declaration itself, signed by Erdogan, Trump, al-Sisi, and Qatari leaders, marked a rare moment of unity in a region often marred by division. Yet, the events leading up to the signing underscored just how fragile that unity remains, especially when it comes to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The summit’s outcome, while momentous for Gaza’s future, also highlighted the enduring tensions that continue to shape Middle Eastern diplomacy.
For Erdogan, the episode was another opportunity to position himself as a champion of the Palestinian cause, a stance that resonates with many in Turkey and across the Muslim world. As Omer Celik explained to journalists, “Netanyahu’s participation was not initially on the table. However, since we are prepared for every possible scenario, we had already worked out how to respond if such a situation arose.” Ankara’s readiness to act decisively, and to marshal regional support, proved instrumental in shaping the summit’s final guest list.
Meanwhile, the absence of Netanyahu did not go unnoticed. While his office maintained that religious observance was behind the decision, diplomatic sources from multiple countries pointed to the coordinated opposition from Turkey, Iraq, and other regional players as the decisive factor. The episode is a stark reminder that, even in the world of high diplomacy, personalities and political calculations can upend the best-laid plans.
As the dust settles, the focus now shifts to the daunting task of rebuilding Gaza. Erdogan, in his remarks, acknowledged that the scars of two years of intense suffering “may never fully heal.” The declaration signed in Sharm el-Sheikh is only the beginning of a long process—one that will require not just political will, but also international cooperation and, perhaps, a measure of reconciliation that was so elusive in the lead-up to the summit.
The events in Sharm el-Sheikh serve as a vivid illustration of how, in the Middle East, diplomacy is rarely straightforward. The summit’s success in forging a ceasefire for Gaza was hard-won, demonstrating that progress is possible even amid deep-seated distrust and competing interests. Whether this fragile unity can hold—and whether the promises made will translate into lasting peace—remains to be seen.