India's Diplomatic Role at Gaza Peace Summit: Minister Kirti Singh Meets Trump, Reaffirms Support for Middle East Peace

Kirti Vardhan Singh, Minister of State for External Affairs and Environment, Forest and Climate Change, met with Donald Trump at the Gaza Peace Summit held in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt on October 13, according to an official statement from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

The summit was jointly hosted by US President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, with participation from numerous world leaders.

India has reaffirmed its commitment to peace in the Middle East and advocated for resolving conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy. The MEA statement indicated that India supports President Trump's Gaza peace plan and acknowledges the significant contributions of Egypt and Qatar in facilitating this initiative and advancing regional peace efforts.

The summit, organized following the release of all remaining hostages and implementation of a ceasefire in Gaza, aimed to strengthen efforts toward regional stability in alignment with President Trump's vision for sustainable peace in the region.

This approach aligns with India's long-standing position supporting a negotiated two-State solution. India has pledged to support all diplomatic initiatives aimed at establishing lasting peace in the Middle East.

During the summit, Minister Singh also met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi on the sidelines, highlighting India's ongoing engagement with key regional stakeholders in promoting shared peace and stability objectives.

Singh emphasized that the Summit demonstrated the international community's dedication to peace and diplomatic dialogue.

In a statement posted on X, Singh remarked, "It was a privilege to meet with His Excellency President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi of Egypt during the Gaza Peace Summit in Sharm El Sheikh. Egypt and India share a significant and vibrant strategic partnership. The Summit underscored the global commitment to peace and dialogue. India reaffirms its unwavering dedication to peace, stability, and enduring security within the Middle East."

President El-Sisi expressed gratitude to US President Donald Trump, as well as the leaders of Qatar and Turkey. The Egyptian president reiterated support for the Gaza plan, hoping it would create the political framework for implementing the two-state solution in the conflict, according to Al Jazeera's reporting of his translated remarks.

Trump declared at the summit, "After years of suffering and bloodshed the war in Gaza is over. Humanitarian aid is now pouring in, including hundreds of truckloads of food, medical equipment and other supplies, much of it paid by people in this room. Civilians are returning to their homes, the hostages are reuniting [with their families]."

"A new and beautiful day is rising and now the rebuilding begins," he added, expressing "tremendous gratitude to the Arab and Muslim nations who helped make this incredible breakthrough possible," as quoted by Al Jazeera.

Meanwhile, Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun suggested that Lebanon and Israel should engage in negotiations to resolve outstanding issues following the ceasefire that ended their conflict in November.

"Lebanon negotiated in the past with Israel with mediation by the United States and the United Nations," Aoun noted, adding that such talks led to a 2022 agreement between the two countries regarding their maritime border.

"What prevents repeating the same thing to find solutions to pending matters, especially because war did not lead to results?" Aoun questioned.

The Lebanese president observed that the Middle East currently appears receptive to deals and agreements, with the specifics of potential negotiations to be determined when appropriate.

Aoun's remarks followed shortly after the US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, ending the two-year Gaza conflict that had sparked other regional hostilities, including the 14-month Israel-Hezbollah war.

Despite these diplomatic developments, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Monday that he would not attend the Gaza Peace Summit in Egypt, citing "time constraints" related to the approaching Shemini Atzeret-Simchat Torah holiday.