Palestinian leader Abbas arrives in Egypt for key Gaza peace summit
- Last updated: October 13, 2025 | 13:58
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas arrived on Monday in Egypt's Sharm el-Sheikh resort to attend a summit co-chaired by the United States and Egypt, and to endorse President Donald Trump's vision for peace in the region.
Abbas was received by Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi after arrival.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was invited by U.S. President Trump to attend a world leaders summit in Sharm El-Sheikh on Monday but he will not join it because it was too close to the start of a Jewish holiday, Netanyahu's office said.
Over 20 world leaders will weigh next steps under Trump's 20-point plan aimed at securing a lasting peace after two years of an Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, where a ceasefire came into effect on Friday. But the summit was being held too close to the start of Simchat Torah that starts on Monday at sunset.
An Egyptian presidential spokesperson earlier said he would attend.
The spokesperson also said US President Donald Trump and Netanyahu held a phone call with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi while they were in Israel on Monday.
Hamas released all 20 remaining living hostages held in Gaza on Monday, as part of a ceasefire pausing two years of war that pummeled the territory, killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, and had left scores of captives in militant hands.
Seven of the hostages were released early Monday, while the remaining 13 were freed a few hours later.
The 20, all men, were being reunited with their families and expected to undergo medical checks.
The bodies of the remaining 28 dead hostages are also expected to be handed over as part of the deal, although the exact timing remained unclear.
Families and friends of the hostages who gathered in a square in Tel Aviv broke into wild cheers as Israeli television channels announced that the first group of hostages was in the hands of the Red Cross. Tens of thousands of Israelis watched the transfers at public screenings across the country.
Israel released the first photos of hostages arriving home, including one showing 28-year-old twins Gali and Ziv Berman embracing as they were reunited. Hostages previously released had said the twins from Kfar Aza were held separately.
The photos of the first seven hostages released Monday showed them looking pale but less gaunt than some of the hostages freed in January.