According to a report by The Times of Israel, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi that he would turn his plane back to Ankara if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were allowed to attend the Gaza summit in Cairo, according to a report by Israel Hayom.
Erdogan reportedly made the call to Sissi while his aircraft was en route to Egypt for the international summit, which is set to bring together world leaders to discuss efforts to secure and solidify the end of the Gaza war and plan for post-war reconstruction.
According to CNN, Turkey also informed the United States that Netanyahu should not participate in the gathering. The network reported that Egypt’s invitation to Netanyahu — reportedly arranged through US mediation — prompted Turkey and several other Muslim-majority nations to threaten a boycott of the summit.
In response to the backlash, Netanyahu’s office later announced that he would not attend the conference, citing a scheduling conflict with the Jewish holiday of Simhat Torah, which begins this evening.
Following Netanyahu’s withdrawal, Erdogan’s plane continued its journey and has since landed in Egypt.
The summit in Cairo, hosted by Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi and co-chaired by US President Donald Trump, is expected to include around two dozen world leaders. The agenda focuses on consolidating the ceasefire in Gaza, coordinating humanitarian relief efforts, and outlining strategies for long-term stability and reconstruction in the war-torn enclave.
Turkey has been one of the most vocal critics of Israel’s military operations in Gaza, repeatedly condemning civilian casualties and calling for international accountability. Erdogan’s warning underscores Ankara’s strong opposition to any direct diplomatic engagement with Israel under current conditions and reflects growing tensions between regional actors over the post-war peace process.
Diplomatic sources cited by CNN said the last-minute decision by Netanyahu to cancel his attendance helped avert a potential confrontation and ensured broader participation from key Muslim nations, including Turkey and Iraq.
As discussions begin in Cairo, leaders are expected to focus on humanitarian corridors, reconstruction funding, and ensuring that the ceasefire remains in place. See, More, Here>>>
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