The top diplomats of the US and Egypt reviewed preparations for a summit in Sharm El-Sheikh, which will bring together the presidents of the two countries and other leaders to discuss implementing the first phase of a Gaza ceasefire deal.
US President Donald Trump and his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi are expected to lead the summit, Egypt’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement Saturday, without indicating when it would take place.
Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday discussed arrangements for the gathering, including for “international participation in the Sharm El-Sheikh summit, as well as preparations for the implementation of the first phase of the (ceasefire) deal”.
French President Emmanuel Macron is set to travel to Egypt on Monday to back the deal, the Elysee Palace said, while Spain’s Pedro Sanchez and Italy’s Giorgia Meloni are also expected to attend, their offices told AFP.
Earlier Trump had said he would meet a “lot of leaders” in Egypt on Monday to discuss the future of devastated Gaza.
Israel has agreed to the truce plan put forward by Trump, and on Friday pulled troops back from several areas of Gaza, setting the clock in motion for hostages held by Hamas to be released within 72 hours.
Alongside the United States and Qatar, Egypt has played a key role in mediating talks that eventually led to the latest ceasefire deal.