India will participate in the high-level leaders’ summit on Gaza on Monday. The summit is being held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt and will be co-hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump and his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
The summit aims to mobilize international support for a post-war roadmap in Gaza, including humanitarian relief, security arrangements, and reconstruction efforts.
India’s Kirti Vardhan Singh, MoS External Affairs, will represent Prime Minister Modi after he received a last minute invitation over the weekend, sources confirmed.
The U.S. State Department has invited leaders from Spain, Japan, Canada, Cyprus, Bahrain, Kuwait, Greece, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Hungary, El Salvador, UAE, Saudi Arabia and reportedly, Iran. Israel is notably not expected to attend.
India’s Balanced Approach
India’s presence at the summit comes at a time when New Delhi is being urged to play a more prominent diplomatic role in the Middle East. In a recent appeal, Palestinian Ambassador to India Abdullah Abu Shawesh called on India to leverage its unique position to end the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
“India’s political weight and ties with Israel uniquely position it to help put an end to the Palestinian suffering,” he said.
In an earlier interview with StratNewsGlobal, the ambassador stressed India’s global responsibility:
“If it is not you, then who? If it is not India, then who?”
India, which has long supported the Palestinian cause while deepening its strategic partnership with Israel, has reiterated its commitment to a peaceful resolution through dialogue.
During a joint statement with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on October 9, Prime Minister Modi expressed support for a two-state solution and endorsed Trump’s peace plan.
“Spoke to my friend, President Trump and congratulated him on the success of the historic Gaza peace plan,” Modi posted on X after a phone call with Trump.
Summit Agenda
The summit, expected to conclude a formal agreement, will address several key elements of the U.S.-backed peace plan, including:
- Implementation of a lasting ceasefire
- Release of hostages and Palestinian detainees
- Reopening of the Rafah crossing under EU supervision
- Daily humanitarian aid deliveries into Gaza
- Discussions on long-term governance and reconstruction
Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto confirmed that the Rafah crossing will reopen on October 14 under the coordination of the EU Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM Rafah), with the participation of Italian Carabinieri and other European forces.
“The passage of individuals from the Rafah crossing will not be limited to medical cases, but will be expanded to include any person subject to mutual consent,” Crosetto said.
President Trump is expected to stop in Israel on Monday morning, deliver a speech at the Knesset, and meet with hostage families before heading to Egypt for the summit and signing ceremony.
According to sources, Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar will serve as guarantors of the agreement.
India’s Strategic Position
India’s involvement reflects its careful diplomatic balancing act in West Asia and the increasing expectations from the Global South for New Delhi to play a leadership role in international crises.
The joint statement issued after Modi’s meeting with Starmer underscored this vision: “The two Prime Ministers supported an immediate and lasting ceasefire, the release of hostages and the delivery of humanitarian aid, and their shared commitment to a lasting and just peace as a step towards a Two-State solution, with a safe and secure Israel, alongside a viable Palestinian state.”
