Egyptian President invites Iraqi PM to attend urgent summit on Gaza

The Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, was formally invited by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to participate in an imminent summit addressing the escalating crisis in Gaza. The invitation was extended on Tuesday, as conveyed by a statement released from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

This pivotal summit, set to unfold in the heart of Cairo, will bring together a consortium of prominent leaders from the Middle East. It has been called to deliberate upon the perilous developments unfolding in the Gaza Strip and the relentless hostilities perpetrated against the Palestinian populace by Israel.

Diplomatic channels out of Cairo divulge that the United States President, Joe Biden, will grace the summit with his presence, with the event scheduled for October 21. Alongside President Biden, dignitaries from Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Turkey are slated to attend. It is noteworthy that President Biden is set to visit Israel prior to his arrival in Egypt, as verified by White House officials.

Furthermore, there is speculation that Iran may also partake in the summit, given its entanglement in the current crisis. The summit’s timing is particularly critical as it unfolds against the backdrop of Israel’s ongoing offensive in Gaza, which commenced a week ago.

The relentless assault has inflicted a grievous human toll, with more than 2,800 Palestinians losing their lives, including at least 1,000 children, at the hands of Israeli occupation forces over the past 11 days. Additionally, over 11,000 others have sustained injuries in the ongoing crisis, underscoring the urgency and importance of the forthcoming summit in addressing this dire situation.