Egypt is currently hosting a summit that brings together regional leaders and high-ranking Western officials to address the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian militant groups in Gaza. The primary focus of this meeting, held on a Saturday, is to explore avenues for de-escalation and negotiate a possible cease-fire, as mounting concerns of a regional conflict cast a shadow over the region, according to reports from Egypt’s state-run media.

Among the notable attendees at the summit are leaders from Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and the Palestinian Authority. The event has also drawn the participation of the Prime Ministers of Italy, Spain, Greece, and Canada, alongside the President of the European Council, as reported by the state-run Al-Ahram daily newspaper. Notably, foreign ministers from Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and Japan are also in attendance, underlining the international significance of the summit.

U.S. President Joe Biden, in a statement made on the previous day, pointed out a key motivation behind the recent attacks by Hamas on Israel. He suggested that Hamas’s actions were partially driven by a desire to disrupt the process of normalizing relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

The assault, which occurred on October 7 and coincided with a major Jewish holiday, triggered retaliatory airstrikes by Israel. These events have left the international community on edge, with the United States playing a crucial role in efforts to prevent the conflict from escalating further. To date, the toll of the conflict stands at 1,400 Israelis and 4,137 Palestinians killed, with Hamas also taking more than 200 individuals as hostages following their initial assault.