Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a "last-minute invitation" to attend the Gaza Peace Summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on October 13, 2025. The summit is co-hosted by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and U.S. President Donald Trump. However, due to the short notice, Modi will not be attending the summit in person. Instead, India will be represented by Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh.
Singh has already arrived in Cairo as a special representative of PM Modi to attend the Gaza Peace Summit at Sharm el-Sheikh. He confirmed his arrival in a post on X.
The Gaza Peace Summit aims to finalize an agreement to end the war in the Gaza Strip and enhance efforts to bring peace and stability to the Middle East. The Egyptian presidency said the summit seeks to "usher in a new phase of regional security and stability". The summit follows weeks of intense conflict that began with an attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7, 2023.
The summit will host leaders from over 20 countries. These include UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, and French President Emmanuel Macron.
The invitation to PM Modi was delivered by Egyptian Ambassador Kamel Galal. Prior to departing for Cairo, Modi also met with U.S. special envoy and Ambassador-designate Sergio Gor in Delhi.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty is expected to visit Delhi later this week to hold the India-Egypt Strategic Dialogue. The outcome of the Gaza peace summit is expected to be high on the agenda during his visit. Abdelatty's visit is part of the Sisi-Modi Strategic Partnership Agreement signed in January 2023.
The summit aims to solidify the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, brokered mainly by negotiators from the U.S., Egypt, Qatar and Turkey. Discussions will also address implementing humanitarian aid and reconstruction measures for Gaza. According to Egyptian officials, the gathering is intended to conclude a political and security framework forming the second phase of Trump's peace plan, which envisions the total disarmament of Hamas, and the creation of a new governing authority in Gaza backed by regional powers and international peacekeepers.
India's participation in the summit underscores its aim to maintain diplomatic relevance in West Asia. PM Modi's decision to send a representative allows New Delhi to signal support without overcommitting. India may look to influence post-war reconstruction strategies and humanitarian frameworks in Gaza.
